The body of a woman who disappeared while on a float at Noccalula Falls was recovered Tuesday.
Regina Smith was found 200 feet below the mouth of the gorge — an area Gadsden Fire Chief Vance Brown said people should stay away from.
“It is an area that no one needs to go in,” Brown said. “It’s not a novice trail. Even experienced guys, stay out of that area because there are just so many dangers down in there. So, I would encourage everyone to come to the falls but stay out of the gorge.”
Brown said crews were challenged by the weather and heavy rains during the search. They had to conduct an intricate grid search using personnel, a GPS program and a drone. They had to carefully recover the body due to the location.
“We have guys that are swift water trained, we have a dive team, police, and fire, and we wouldn’t put our guys into that right there,” Brown said. “So, my message is to stay out of that water.”
Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford said there are signs in the area warning to stay out of the gorge. However, he said it is a natural resource, so there isn’t anything the city can do to stop people from going.
“It’s a beautiful natural resource and the people enjoy it,” Ford said. “No fault of her own because you get in that water and you think you’re fine and then all the sudden, you start drifting and you think, ‘I’m having fun,’ then you start going and before you know it, you’re gone.”
Ford asked for prayers for the family of Smith and for first responders who worked for hours to find and then recover her body.
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