A 3-year-old Pennsylvania girl died late on Sunday, April 10, after falling down a waterfall in North Carolina. Nevaeh Jade Newswanger was killed after being swept down Whitewater Falls and out with the current.
According to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, the toddler's body was found around 1 a.m. on Monday after getting trapped in an area by the waterfall that the child was visiting with her family. In the news release, the Sheriff's Office said that the victim was swept away in the water at the top of Whitewater falls, and the current pushed Newswanger over the falls.
According to the Jackson County Emergency Management 911 Center, they received a call about the missing child at 5:50 p.m. on Sunday. Emergency responders from multiple counties immediately responded to the scene and attempted to locate Newswanger. According to the New York Daily News, crews from Transylvania, Haywood, Henderson, Oconee, and Jackson counties rushed to the falls to help in the search.
Nevaeh Jade found trapped in an area of Whitewater Falls
Unfortunately for the responders and the victim's family, the search had a tragic ending. "Just prior to nightfall on Sunday, rescuers located the child deceased and entrapped in an area of the waterfall," per the sheriff's office statement.
Authorities said that recovery operations continued throughout the night into the early morning until Nevaeh Jade was recovered around 1 a.m. on Monday. Officials noted that Nevaeh and her family lived in Oconee County, South Carolina while working in the area. Oconee County is located about 25 miles south of Whitewater Falls, where the incident occurred.
Whitewater Falls is located near the border of North Carolina and South Carolina. According to the U.S. Forest Service, it is the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, with a plunge of 411 feet. The Lower Whitewater Falls, located nearby in South Carolina, also drops 400 feet.
Jackson County Sheriff offers condolences to Newswanger Family
It is not known at the moment how far Neveah fell from the top of Whitewater Falls. Jackson County Sheriff Chip Hall offered his condolences to the victim's family, saying, "First and foremost, our prayers are with the Newswanger family as they grieve the loss of this precious young child."
Hall told NBC News in a statement that with the onset of spring weather, people need to be reminded of the dangers associated with many scenic areas of the region, such as waterfalls. He said that while the falls are beautiful to view from a safe distance, venturing out closer to them for any reason brings tremendous danger.
Hall reminded people to always remain at a distance and follow safety precautions and warnings that are in place in these areas. Hall pleaded with people to view the waterfalls from designated viewing areas to avoid unnecessary danger.
