Sevier News Messenger Sevier County News and Opinion
Park officials say a man drowned in the Oconaluftee River in Great Smoky Mountains National Park while trying to rescue a younger family member.
Park Rangers responded to a drowning in progress call just before 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2020 behind the Mountain Farm Museum in Cherokee, N.C. Witnesses said that 32-year-old Bulmaro Morales, of Dudley, N.C., heroically jumped into the river to save a juvenile family member in distress. When rangers arrived on scene the juvenile was safe on shore, but Morales had not resurfaced. Rangers immediately joined with bystanders to search for Morales, who was found about 10 feet underwater and unresponsive.
Life-saving efforts were conducted but were unsuccessful. Cherokee EMS and Cherokee Fire and Rescue assisted with the incident.
