A 28-year-old woman drowned on the Buffalo National River on or about April 9, 2026. She was a non-swimmer, paddling alone in a rented canoe.A PFD was issued, but not worn.She went into the water below where a tree sticks out into a Class I rapid (picture), just a few hundred yards above her intended take out at Grinders Ferry (Hwy 65). There were no witnesses, but she was on phone doing FaceTime with boyfriend when it happened. He saw a splash on the phone, then lost contact. Her phone was found on bottom within a few feet of an overhanging branch. She floated free and was found floating face down in the pool below by some young tubers. This accident has not been reported in the press so far as we know.