Accident Database

Report ID#68419

2020-09-27
accident date
Kelli Powell
victim
29
victim age
Nolichucky (Poplar N.C. to Nolichucky Gorge Campground
river
Poplar N.C. to Nolichucky Gorge Campground (Erwin, TN)
section
n/a
location
n/a
gage
High
water level
IV
river difficulty
PFD Fell Off
cause code(s)
Head Injury / Concussion, Near Drowning
injury type(s)
High Water
factors
Commercial
trip type
Raft
boat type
status?
status

Description

Group of 4 friends went on  the raft trip on September 25 and flipped on the quarter mile level 4 rapid.  All 4 friends and guide flipped out of boat.  All were rescued at various times but the last person lost her PFD after being flipped in the rapids.  She was rescued by another raft group/guide . She was assisted up the incline toward he train tracks when an active train came by and all of the victims of the raft had to seek safety on the side of the track.  A van from USA rafting came to pick up all the the friends after they walked approximately a mile down the track.