Sheriff: Georgia news anchor dies at Rainbow Falls
TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY - A Georgia morning news anchor plunged approximately 160 feet to her death Thursday after being swept over the top of Rainbow Falls just a day before her 25th birthday, according to authorities.
Transylvania County Sheriff David Mahoney confirmed Saturday that Taylor Terrell, 24, died in the accident.
Terrell, of Conyers, Georgia, anchored 41NBC News at Daybreak and 41Today in Macon, Georgia. According to 13WMAZ Special Projects Producer Erica Carr, Terrell was an "avid hiker" and had taken Friday off from work.
"(Friday) was her 25th birthday," Carr said. "She was a beloved morning anchor (and) a sweet, beautiful girl. Everybody is devastated here."
On Friday morning, Terrell's parents informed the television station that their daughter was in an accident and did not survive, according to News Director Brandon Long. Terrell had been working with 41NBC since August of 2013. She started as a reporter before she was promoted to an anchor position.
“Taylor was a hard worker with a bright smile. She rose through the ranks from intern to reporter, to weekend anchor, to morning anchor and was eager to prepare for her next chapter,” according to a statement issued by her news station. “This is a devastating loss for us here at 41NBC and most definitely for her family.”
Terrell had been wading in the creek with a friend at the top of Rainbow Falls when she lost her footing on some rocks covered in algae, according to spokeswoman Cathy Dowd with the United States Forest Service. She was then swept over Rainbow Falls by the swift current.
The incident happened just after 4 p.m. Thursday, according to firefighters at the Lake Toxaway Fire Department. Her body had been recovered by 8:30 p.m.
The U.S. Forest Service investigated the fatality with the assistance of the Transylvania County Sheriff's Office. Terrell's death was considered to be "accidental," Dowd said Friday.
Her death marked the first fatality at Rainbow Falls in 2016, according to Dowd. In the past 10 years, there have been seven deaths in the Pisgah National Ranger District.
In Transylvania County there have been seven waterfall deaths to-date since Jan. 1, according to Transylvania County authorities.
Rainbow Falls is located in the Gorges State Park, about 55 miles from Asheville near Lake Toxaway and the small town of Sapphire. It is one of several waterfalls in Transylvania County that is a popular attraction for locals and visitors.
Officials urge people visiting waterfalls to remember these attractions can be dangerous, and in some cases deadly.
"The best way to enjoy a waterfall is from a safe distance," Dowd said in a press release.
Waterfall Safety Tips
- Heed posted warning signs indicating danger and stay on established trails.
- Never climb on or around waterfalls and never play in the water above a waterfall. Rocks can be slippery and it's easy to lose your balance especially with bare feet. Currents near waterfalls can be extremely swift even in areas further upstream.
- Never jump off waterfalls or dive into plunge pools at the base of waterfalls. Rocks and logs can be hidden beneath the surface of the water. Often waterfall pools have swirling water or currents that can drag and keep you underwater.
- Even if you have seen other people enjoy playing around waterfalls, be aware they have been lucky to escape unharmed. Waterfalls are constantly changing with varying water flows and erosion of the rocks around them. The current from one place to the next may be faster than you anticipate and the arrangement of rocks or other debris such as logs in the plunge pool is ever changing.
"Waterfalls are exciting and rivers are a great place to cool off on a hot day, but both pose risks to unprepared visitors," Dowd said. "We hope this information helps to make you aware of the hazards so you can enjoy a safe and fun visit to your National Forests in North Carolina."
