A spokesman for the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said Monday more than a dozen agencies were involved in the recovery of a Gainesville 19-year-old’s body after he fell Friday while hiking at Tallulah Gorge State Park.
Mark McKinnon also said that Exauce Kabeya fell into the river that runs through the gorge and did not surface.
“Search efforts began quickly utilizing drone and rescue teams,” McKinnon added. “A few hours later, the deceased victim was located and recovered from the water.” The accident happened at Oceana Falls.
EARLIER STORY. POSTED SATURDAY MORNING: A Gainesville man drowned Friday afternoon when he fell into the river at Tallulah Gorge State Park. The state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says Exauce Kabeya, 19, was hiking at the time. The accident happened about midday and his body was recovered a few hours later.
(Photo by Rob Moore, Habersham County PIO)
Agencies involved in the search and recovery operation include:
- Department of Natural Resources (DNR) – Law Enforcement and Aviation Unit and DNR Parks & Historic Sites
- Rabun SAR/EMA
- Rabun County EMS
- Habersham County Emergency Services
- Tallulah Falls Police
- Tallulah Falls Fire-Rescue
- Hall County Sheriff’s Office (Dive and UAS)
- GA DOC – LACI
- Habersham County PIO
- Rabun County Coroner’s Office
- Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS)
- Georgia State Patrol (GSP) – Aviation
- Georgia Power/North Georgia Hydro