Ocoee Guide Dies in West Va. Rafting Accident

  • Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Searchers have recovered the body of a Tennessee man who fell out of his raft on the Gauley River in southern West Virginia.

New River Gorge National River Chief Ranger Jeff West says rangers found the body of 21-year-old Matthew Hanes of Cleveland, Tenn., Tuesday afternoon in an undercut rock in Fingernail rapid.

West says Hanes fell out of his raft in the rapid Monday afternoon. His body was found about seven-and-a-half miles from Lake Summersville Dam.

A spokesperson for the National Park Service said Hanes was an experienced Ocoee river guide. It's not known if Hanes was wearing a life preserver. The Knoxville News Sentinel reported that he was with friends and other Ocoee Outdoors guides.

It was the second rafting incident on the Gauley River this week.

A University of Illinois student was killed Sunday when a commercial outfitter's raft tipped and she fell out. Her identity hasn't been released.

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