Ocoee River tileThe Ocoee River claimed another life Saturday – the fifth in three years.
Gary Brown, 50, of Clayton, N.C., died after the raft he was in with six others including a tour guide overturned in a rapid. According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Brown was found unresponsive downriver.
Investigators say the accident is being ruled an accidental drowning, as Brown was wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident and no external injuries were found on his body. However, the accident is still under investigation by TWRA and Tennessee State Parks.
According to TWRA, rafting fatalities on the Ocoee River are fairly uncommon. Brown’s brings the total to 10 over the past 23 years.
Two occurred last August — on consecutive days — when Marnita McGruder, 51, of Rex, Ga., and Katherine Tyler Luna, 36, of Smyrna, Tenn., lost their lives in the Middle section of the Ocoee on a rapid called “Grumpy’s.” Both were part of a professionally guided tour with separate well-established whitewater adventure outfitters.