3-year-old dies after being swept over Whitewater Falls

Derek Lacey, Asheville Citizen Times
·2 min read
A sign at an observation point uses blunt language at White Water Falls in the Nantahala National Forest on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. The waterfall is the highest in the East at more than 400 feet. It is also one of the most deadly. A least 13 people have died at the falls since 1995.
A sign at an observation point uses blunt language at White Water Falls in the Nantahala National Forest on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. The waterfall is the highest in the East at more than 400 feet. It is also one of the most deadly. A least 13 people have died at the falls since 1995.

A 3-year-old child died April 10 after being swept over Whitewater Falls in the Jackson County area of Nantahala National Forest.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office reports that Nevaeh Jade Newswanger, 3, of Denver, Pennsylvania, had been visiting the waterfall with family, who are staying in Oconee County, South Carolina, while working in the area.

Jackson County Emergency Management received a call at 5:50 p.m. April 10, reporting a 3-year-old had been swept away in the water at the top of the falls, and the current had carried the child over the falls.

More: Nantahala, Pisgah plan: Only about 5% of almost 14,000 objectors eligible, says Forest Service

Crews from Jackson, Transylvania, Haywood, Henderson and Oconee counties responded to the falls and launched rescue operations to locate the child, according to the news release.

They were able to locate the child deceased and entrapped in an area of the waterfall, with recovery operations throughout the night and early morning leading to the child being recovered around 1 a.m. April 11.

Whitewater Falls in the Nantahala National Forest as seen from the observation deck on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. The waterfall is the highest in the East at more than 400 feet. It is also one of the most deadly. A least 13 people have died at the falls since 1995.
Whitewater Falls in the Nantahala National Forest as seen from the observation deck on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. The waterfall is the highest in the East at more than 400 feet. It is also one of the most deadly. A least 13 people have died at the falls since 1995.

"First and foremost our prayers are with the Newswanger family as they grieve the loss of this precious young child," Jackson County Sheriff Chip Hall says in the release. "With the onset of spring weather, we need to be reminded of the dangers associated with many scenic areas of the region such as waterfalls."

More: One waterfall in Western North Carolina has claimed more victims by far

Whitewater Falls, at more than 400 feet high, is one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Rockies, and one of the most deadly.

At least 15 people have died at the waterfall since 1995, including a rescue squad member in 2020 who died during a rescue, and the 24-year old who went over the falls the night before.

Mike DiLeo, of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, takes in Whitewater Falls in the Nantahala National Forest from the observation deck on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. The waterfall is the highest in the East at more than 400 feet. It is also one of the most deadly. A least 13 people have died at the falls since 1995.
Mike DiLeo, of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, takes in Whitewater Falls in the Nantahala National Forest from the observation deck on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. The waterfall is the highest in the East at more than 400 feet. It is also one of the most deadly. A least 13 people have died at the falls since 1995.

"While beautiful to view from a safe distance, venturing out closer to the falls for any reason brings tremendous danger," Hall says in the release. "Always remain at a safe distance, follow safety precautions and warnings which are in place, and view waterfalls from designated viewing areas."

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: 3-year-old dies after being swept over Whitewater Falls

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