North Carolina rescuer falls to death during recovery effort today

CASHIERS, N.C. (AP) — A search team member fell to his death while trying to help recover a body at the base of a North Carolina waterfall, according to emergency management officials.

Eldon Jamison, 71, was assisting in the search for 24-year-old hiker Chandler Manuel on Tuesday when he fell from a rope to the bottom of Whitewater Falls in Cashiers, the Jackson County Emergency Management Office said.

Jamison was a 40-year member of the Glenville-Cashiers Rescue Squad, according to a statement from the crew.

The accident happened as nearly 20 climbers were repelling down the falls to look for Manuel, who fell into the water Monday night, county officials said in a statement.

A North Carolina National Guard helicopter team helped recover Jamison’s body Tuesday evening and Manuel’s body was found Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture credits Whitewater falls as “the highest waterfall east of the Rockies,” with a 411-foot (125-meter) upper falls and a 400-foot (122-meter) lower falls.