News Release

Injury at Little River Canyon National Preserve

Date: May 25, 2020
Contact: Matt Switzer, [phone]

On the afternoon of Monday, May 25, 2020, Kenzie Wetzel, a 21-year-old female from Douglasville, GA,  was walking along the area above Little River Falls where she slipped on a rock, became caught up in the current, and was washed over the edge to the pool of water 35’ below. Wetzel was able to make her way to the rocks in the middle of the pool and await help. First responders were immediately dispatched and on-scene within minutes and a search and rescue operation was initiated.

National Park Service rangers, Fischer Rescue Squad, Fort Payne Fire Department, Dogtown Volunteer Fire Department, DeKalb Ambulance Service (DAS), Cherokee County Sheriff Office, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) State Troopers and ALEA Aviation, and Air Evac Lifeteam all responded to the scene for the rescue.  
First responders were able to get to Wetzel’s location, access her injuries, and determine the best course of action to extract Wetzel from the canyon. An ALEA helicopter was dispatched to extract Wetzel and deliver her to the Little River Falls parking lot where DAS accessed her injuries and she was delivered to an area hospital by the Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter.

For more information, please contact Park Ranger/Public Information Officer Matt Switzer at 256-845-9605.