First responders confirm
1 dead after kayak swept over dam along Chattahoochee River
March 30, 2019
CHAMBERS COUNTY, Ala.
(WRBL) - First responders confirm to News 3 one person is dead and several
people are injured after a kayak was swept over a dam in the Chattahoochee
River in Chambers County Saturday.
Kerry Pickard with The
East Alabama Fire District says crews performed a water rescue Saturday
afternoon after a kayak containing two people was swept over one of the low
head dams.
Rescuers were able to
quickly locate the victims with help of bystanders. Multiple victims, some with
life-threatening, injuries were moved through rugged terrain and across water
by boats to awaiting ambulances.
At last check, one of
the kayakers passed away from their injuries.
Mother drowns, son
survives after kayak goes over a low head dam along Chattahoochee River
by Elizabeth White;
wrbl.com
HARRIS COUNTY, Ga.
(WRBL) - The name of a mother killed
when her kayak swept over a dam during a family outing on the Chattahoochee
over the weekend has been released.
The Georgia Department
of Natural Resources confirms 37-year-old Fallon Wells of Henagar, Alabama was
killed when Wells and her 11-year-old son went over a low head dam resulting in
her drowning on Saturday, March 30th.
East Alabama Fire
District responded to the water rescue near Crowhop Dam, in Harris County, Georgia. Deputy Fire Chief Kerry Pickard tells News 3,
four family members were in two kayaks along the Chattahoochee and water had
been generating since that morning. Pickhard says the current was quick at it
appears one kayak was able to make it to an island, but the other went over
Crowhop Dam in Harris County, Georgia.
"Rough terrain
required efforts from multiple emergency crew members who were able to quickly
locate the victims and get them out of the water and into ambulances. A total of four patients, from two kayaks,
were transported by East Alabama Fire District. Emergency crews performed life
support measures while transporting one victim to East Alabama Medical Center
but were unable to revive them. Three others were injured in the incident but
are expected to be okay " said Pickard.
Mark McKinnon with the
Georgia Department of Natural Resources tells News 3 the victim was with her
family at the time of the drowning.
"Georgia Game
Wardens responded to a boating incident on the Chattahoochee River in Harris
County, GA that resulted in one fatality. Upon arrival, they learned that a
family of four were kayaking on the river when the mother and 11-year-old son
went over a low head dam resulting in the drowning death of the mother. The
father and daughter were able to stop before going over the dam, and the father
jumped in attempting to rescue the victim, but he was unsuccessful. None of the family members were wearing life
jackets," said McKinnon.
