2-year-old SC boy dies in fall at Chimney Rock Park

[tiny dancer]

Photo of the area at link posted:
2-year-old SC boy dies in fall at Chimney Rock Park


Posted: May. 24 9:54 p.m.
Updated: 49 minutes ago

Asheville, N.C. - Authorities say a 2-year-old boy has died after he fell
from a trail while hiking with his family at Chimney Rock Park.

Park superintendent Adrienne Wallace told the Asheville Citizen-Times they
do not know how the boy got over a fence that lines the trail.

Wallace would not identify the boy, but said his parents were from
Spartanburg, S.C.

Wallace said officials do not know how far the child fell Saturday morning,
but she said there are steep cliffs in the area.

After the boy fell, Wallace said two climbers repelled down and started CPR.
The boy was taken to the hospital, where he died.



http://wral.com/news/state/story/2937358/

May 25, 2008



2-year-old dies in Chimney Rock fall

Mike McWilliams

A 2-year-old South Carolina boy died Saturday from injuries he suffered in a
fall while hiking with his family at Chimney Rock Park.
Park staff were notified about 10:30 a.m. that a child had fallen from one
of the trails, park Superintendent Adrienne Wallace said. It's unknown
exactly how far he fell, Wallace said.

"It was several, several feet," she said. "We do not know the exact location
that he fell from, but the general area is a steep cliff area."
Wallace declined to identify the boy but said his parents are from
Spartanburg, S.C. The incident remains under investigation by park staff.
Within a minute after the boy fell, trail walkers arrived at the scene to
begin rescue efforts and summon additional help. Several emergency, fire and
police crews responded, she said.
Two climbers rappelled down the cliff and began CPR and medical treatment on
the boy, who was on a cliff trail. Crews were able to move the boy to an
ambulance, and he was taken to the hospital, Wallace said. Wallace said she
did not know when the child died.
Park staff closed two trails during the rescue effort to clear the way for
EMS crews, Wallace said. The trails reopened after the boy was removed from
the park, she said.
The rescue effort took about 90 minutes, she said.
Fencing lines the trails, and it's unknown how the boy got past the
barricade, Wallace said.
"As long as people stay on the trail, they are fine," she said. "If you get
off the trails, it's at your own risk, and it is dangerous."
Chimney Rock Park is located about 25 miles southeast of Asheville in
Rutherford County.

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880524047



http://www.chimneyrockpark.com/

[MaryL]

Post by tiny dancer
2-year-old SC boy dies in fall at Chimney Rock Park
Posted: May. 24 9:54 p.m.
Updated: 49 minutes ago
Asheville, N.C. - Authorities say a 2-year-old boy has died after he fell
from a trail while hiking with his family at Chimney Rock Park.
Park superintendent Adrienne Wallace told the Asheville Citizen-Times they
do not know how the boy got over a fence that lines the trail.
Wallace would not identify the boy, but said his parents were from
Spartanburg, S.C.
Wallace said officials do not know how far the child fell Saturday
morning, but she said there are steep cliffs in the area.
After the boy fell, Wallace said two climbers repelled down and started
CPR. The boy was taken to the hospital, where he died.
http://wral.com/news/state/story/2937358/
May 25, 2008
2-year-old dies in Chimney Rock fall
Mike McWilliams
A 2-year-old South Carolina boy died Saturday from injuries he suffered in
a fall while hiking with his family at Chimney Rock Park.
Park staff were notified about 10:30 a.m. that a child had fallen from one
of the trails, park Superintendent Adrienne Wallace said. It's unknown
exactly how far he fell, Wallace said.
"It was several, several feet," she said. "We do not know the exact
location that he fell from, but the general area is a steep cliff area."
Wallace declined to identify the boy but said his parents are from
Spartanburg, S.C. The incident remains under investigation by park staff.
Within a minute after the boy fell, trail walkers arrived at the scene to
begin rescue efforts and summon additional help. Several emergency, fire
and police crews responded, she said.
Two climbers rappelled down the cliff and began CPR and medical treatment
on the boy, who was on a cliff trail. Crews were able to move the boy to
an ambulance, and he was taken to the hospital, Wallace said. Wallace said
she did not know when the child died.
Park staff closed two trails during the rescue effort to clear the way for
EMS crews, Wallace said. The trails reopened after the boy was removed
from the park, she said.
The rescue effort took about 90 minutes, she said.
Fencing lines the trails, and it's unknown how the boy got past the
barricade, Wallace said.
"As long as people stay on the trail, they are fine," she said. "If you
get off the trails, it's at your own risk, and it is dangerous."
Chimney Rock Park is located about 25 miles southeast of Asheville in
Rutherford County.
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880524047
http://www.chimneyrockpark.com/

What a horrible accident. This is one of those cases where I can't imagine
why parents would take a two-year-old to a place like that...or at the very
least, why they would not be holding the child the entire time. Just
"watching" is not good enough in that type of enviornment (as this tragedy
shows).

MaryL

[tiny dancer]

Post by MaryL

Post by tiny dancer
2-year-old SC boy dies in fall at Chimney Rock Park
Posted: May. 24 9:54 p.m.
Updated: 49 minutes ago
Asheville, N.C. - Authorities say a 2-year-old boy has died after he fell
from a trail while hiking with his family at Chimney Rock Park.
Park superintendent Adrienne Wallace told the Asheville Citizen-Times
they do not know how the boy got over a fence that lines the trail.
Wallace would not identify the boy, but said his parents were from
Spartanburg, S.C.
Wallace said officials do not know how far the child fell Saturday
morning, but she said there are steep cliffs in the area.
After the boy fell, Wallace said two climbers repelled down and started
CPR. The boy was taken to the hospital, where he died.
http://wral.com/news/state/story/2937358/
May 25, 2008
2-year-old dies in Chimney Rock fall
Mike McWilliams
A 2-year-old South Carolina boy died Saturday from injuries he suffered
in a fall while hiking with his family at Chimney Rock Park.
Park staff were notified about 10:30 a.m. that a child had fallen from
one of the trails, park Superintendent Adrienne Wallace said. It's
unknown exactly how far he fell, Wallace said.
"It was several, several feet," she said. "We do not know the exact
location that he fell from, but the general area is a steep cliff area."
Wallace declined to identify the boy but said his parents are from
Spartanburg, S.C. The incident remains under investigation by park staff.
Within a minute after the boy fell, trail walkers arrived at the scene to
begin rescue efforts and summon additional help. Several emergency, fire
and police crews responded, she said.
Two climbers rappelled down the cliff and began CPR and medical treatment
on the boy, who was on a cliff trail. Crews were able to move the boy to
an ambulance, and he was taken to the hospital, Wallace said. Wallace
said she did not know when the child died.
Park staff closed two trails during the rescue effort to clear the way
for EMS crews, Wallace said. The trails reopened after the boy was
removed from the park, she said.
The rescue effort took about 90 minutes, she said.
Fencing lines the trails, and it's unknown how the boy got past the
barricade, Wallace said.
"As long as people stay on the trail, they are fine," she said. "If you
get off the trails, it's at your own risk, and it is dangerous."
Chimney Rock Park is located about 25 miles southeast of Asheville in
Rutherford County.
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880524047
http://www.chimneyrockpark.com/

What a horrible accident. This is one of those cases where I can't
imagine why parents would take a two-year-old to a place like that...or at
the very least, why they would not be holding the child the entire time.
Just "watching" is not good enough in that type of enviornment (as this
tragedy shows).
MaryL

I can't imagine how they could let go of him. And how he could manage to
slip through the fence.


Fatal fall at Chimney Rock under investigation
APRIL BETHEA
***@charlotteobserver.com
Investigators are still trying to determine how a two-year-old fell from a
trail while hiking with his family at Chimney Rock Park.

The boy, who later died, has been identified as Giovani Chavez. His parents,
Bibiana and Arturo Chavez, are from Spartanburg, S.C., said Mary
Jaeger-Gale, general manager of Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park.
"Our hearts go out to that family," she said.

Jaeger-Gale said the incident happened shortly after 10:30 a.m. Saturday
along the Skyline-Cliff Trail Loop. Trail rangers were able to reach the boy
within a minute, then dialed 911, she said.

Giovani was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The Skyline-Cliff Trail Loop features the two highest trails at the park,
and is not generally recommended for families with small children because of
the cliffs, Jaeger-Gale said. She said families do take children on the
trail, but "you have to be really watchful."

Chimney Rock, about 100 miles west of Charlotte, is a popular destination
during Memorial Day weekend.

http://www.charlotte.com/breaking_news/story/640006.html


td

[MaryL]

Post by tiny dancer

Post by MaryL

Post by tiny dancer
2-year-old SC boy dies in fall at Chimney Rock Park
Posted: May. 24 9:54 p.m.
Updated: 49 minutes ago
Asheville, N.C. - Authorities say a 2-year-old boy has died after he
fell from a trail while hiking with his family at Chimney Rock Park.
Park superintendent Adrienne Wallace told the Asheville Citizen-Times
they do not know how the boy got over a fence that lines the trail.
Wallace would not identify the boy, but said his parents were from
Spartanburg, S.C.
Wallace said officials do not know how far the child fell Saturday
morning, but she said there are steep cliffs in the area.
After the boy fell, Wallace said two climbers repelled down and started
CPR. The boy was taken to the hospital, where he died.
http://wral.com/news/state/story/2937358/
May 25, 2008
2-year-old dies in Chimney Rock fall
Mike McWilliams
A 2-year-old South Carolina boy died Saturday from injuries he suffered
in a fall while hiking with his family at Chimney Rock Park.
Park staff were notified about 10:30 a.m. that a child had fallen from
one of the trails, park Superintendent Adrienne Wallace said. It's
unknown exactly how far he fell, Wallace said.
"It was several, several feet," she said. "We do not know the exact
location that he fell from, but the general area is a steep cliff area."
Wallace declined to identify the boy but said his parents are from
Spartanburg, S.C. The incident remains under investigation by park staff.
Within a minute after the boy fell, trail walkers arrived at the scene
to begin rescue efforts and summon additional help. Several emergency,
fire and police crews responded, she said.
Two climbers rappelled down the cliff and began CPR and medical
treatment on the boy, who was on a cliff trail. Crews were able to move
the boy to an ambulance, and he was taken to the hospital, Wallace said.
Wallace said she did not know when the child died.
Park staff closed two trails during the rescue effort to clear the way
for EMS crews, Wallace said. The trails reopened after the boy was
removed from the park, she said.
The rescue effort took about 90 minutes, she said.
Fencing lines the trails, and it's unknown how the boy got past the
barricade, Wallace said.
"As long as people stay on the trail, they are fine," she said. "If you
get off the trails, it's at your own risk, and it is dangerous."
Chimney Rock Park is located about 25 miles southeast of Asheville in
Rutherford County.
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880524047
http://www.chimneyrockpark.com/

What a horrible accident. This is one of those cases where I can't
imagine why parents would take a two-year-old to a place like that...or
at the very least, why they would not be holding the child the entire
time. Just "watching" is not good enough in that type of enviornment (as
this tragedy shows).
MaryL

I can't imagine how they could let go of him. And how he could manage to
slip through the fence.

Well, I can imagine how a small child could slip through the fence if the
parents were not vigilant because some of those fences have fairly wide gaps
in them. What I *can't* understand is how parents could have a small child
in that area and not have him under complete *physical control* (as in,
holding him).

MaryL

[Pneuma]

On Sun, 25 May 2008 10:42:08 -0400, "tiny dancer"

Post by tiny dancer
2-year-old SC boy dies in fall at Chimney Rock Park

No matter how tragic this death is it is not a true-crime topic, you ignorant
slut.

[Wild Monkshood]

Post by Pneuma
On Sun, 25 May 2008 10:42:08 -0400, "tiny dancer"

Post by tiny dancer
2-year-old SC boy dies in fall at Chimney Rock Park

No matter how tragic this death is it is not a true-crime topic, you ignorant
slut.

The investigation continues. There may yet be negligence or any number
of nasty surprises, you slugnant iglunt...

WM

[tiny dancer]

Post by Pneuma
On Sun, 25 May 2008 10:42:08 -0400, "tiny dancer"

Post by tiny dancer
2-year-old SC boy dies in fall at Chimney Rock Park

No matter how tragic this death is it is not a true-crime topic, you ignorant
slut.

The investigation continues. There may yet be negligence or any number of
nasty surprises, you slugnant iglunt...
WM

SC toddler dies after fall from cliff at NC park
1 hour ago

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - A 2-year-old boy was killed over the weekend when he
pulled away from his mother's hand and fell about 100 feet off a cliff at a
North Carolina state park, officials said.

Giovani Chavez, of Spartanburg, S.C., ran under a boardwalk railing and fell
Saturday at Chimney Rock State Park, state parks spokesman Charlie Peek told
The Charlotte Observer.

"She was on the dangerous side of the trail," Peek said of the mother. "She
was holding her child's hand and that's exactly what we would recommend:
Just watch them every minute and hold on to them every minute."

It took about 90 minutes to get to the boy, who was pronounced dead at a
hospital, authorities said.

Trail maps at the park advise parents not to bring small children on the
Skyline Trail because of the steep cliffs.

Authorities are still investigating the fall, and their work has been made
more complicated because the family speaks little English.

In North Carolina, about one to two people die each year at state parks,
Peeks said. Most falls happen at waterfalls, he said.



http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hFsgalTWI82XgV0Eghzj7KLsl9wwD90TFHD01

[tiny dancer]

Boy who fell went under rail
2-year-old who died in 100-foot fall had pulled away from mother's grasp at
Chimney Rock park
APRIL BETHEA
***@charlotteobserver.com
A 2-year-old boy who fell to his death at Chimney Rock State Park over the
weekend apparently slipped under the rail of a fence bordering the trail,
park officials said Sunday.

Through an interpreter, the boy's mother told police she was holding her
child's hand while walking between him and the rail overlooking the cliff
when he suddenly pulled away from her, said Charlie Peek, spokesman for the
N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation, which manages the park.

The boy ran, then slipped under the rail of the boardwalk along the Skyline
Trail and fell more than 100 feet to the Cliff Trail below, Peek said.

Park officials don't recommend those trails for families with small children
because of the cliffs, a caution that is spelled out on trail maps given to
visitors. But many families still take children on the trail.

While the incident remained under investigation Sunday, Peek said the mother
"seemed to have been doing everything right."

"She was on the dangerous side of the trail," Peek said. "She was holding
her child's hand and that's exactly what we would recommend: Just watch them
every minute and hold on to them every minute."

The toddler was identified as Giovani Chavez and his parents are Bibiana and
Arturo Chavez of Spartanburg, S.C., said park official Mary Jaeger-Gale.

The state bought Chimney Rock park in 2007 and made it part of a larger park
system, but a private organization that Jaeger-Gale works for runs the famed
Chimney Rock part of the park.

The Skyline-Cliff Trail Loop features the two highest trails at the park and
has steep, sheer cliffs.

State officials say they're still trying to piece together exactly what
happened at the park, which is about 100 miles west of Charlotte in
Rutherford County.

The boy fell around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, and two park employees on the Cliff
Trail found him within a minute, summoned emergency officials and began
performing CPR, officials said.

Authorities later took the toddler out of the park on a backboard, and he
was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The rescue took about 90 minutes.

Park officials said they're still not sure exactly where the boy fell from
along the Skyline Trail. Peek said it doesn't appear the boy broke any rails
lining the boardwalk when he fell.

He said officials may look at whether to replace the boardwalk rails as part
of their investigation.

Authorities also want to re-interview family members, who do not speak much
English. They could not be reached on Sunday.

In North Carolina, about one or two people die each year in accidents at
state parks, with most falling accidents happening at waterfalls, Peek said.
Jaeger-Gale said Saturday's fatal fall was the fourth major accident at the
park in the 27 years she's been there.

Several state parks, including Chimney Rock, have signs printed in English
and Spanish warning visitors of steep cliffs. Jaeger-Gale and Peek said
people can usually avoid problems if they stay on the marked trails.

"I think what people have to understand, bottom line, is that state parks
are in wild areas," Peek said. "There is a certain level of risk all the
time. We try to lessen that risk and warn people the best we can but it's
not like a city park. It's not like your backyard. There are serious risks
in some of these trails in the park. That's why the trails are there."

April Bethea: 704-358-6013

Hiking safety

Here are some general tips for hiking in state parks, including steps to
take if you have children with you:

. Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes.

. Always supervise children under the age of 16.

. Stay on the marked trail.

. Plan ahead: Learn more about the area where you plan to hike from a trail
ranger or past visitors. Ask how strenuous the trail is. Are there are any
cliff or water features?

. Don't push children to go on a trail if they are hungry or tired.

. Don't throw or kick rocks.

. Check rules about strollers. Chimney Rock doesn't recommend strollers for
some trails, though you can rent a backpack.



http://www.charlotte.com/112/story/640597.html

[tiny dancer]

NC park reviews signs, barriers after child death

Posted: Today at 10:56 a.m.
Updated: 22 minutes ago

CHIMNEY ROCK, N.C. - Officials at a North Carolina park are evaluating
barriers and signs along a trail where a 2-year-old South Carolina boy fell
to his death.

Chimney Rock State Park officials say it's up to parents to decide if a
hiking trail is safe for their children. State park workers mostly give
advice and information on potential dangers.

"To say no, children should not go on this trail, or children should not go
near this water feature, I'm not sure we want to take that responsibility
entirely, and I'm not sure our visitors want us to take that
responsibility," state Division of Parks and Recreation Spokesman Charlie
Peek told the Asheville Citizen-Times for a story Wednesday.

Chimney Rock general manager Mary Jaeger-Gale told the Asheville
Citizen-Times that Giovani Chávez's death was a devastating accident and a
rare occurrence.

The boy had been hiking Saturday with his parents, Bibiana and Arturo
Chávez, when he broke free and ran under a rail. The family is from
Spartanburg, S.C. and was hiking on the Skyline Trail. Park maps advise
parents not to bring small children on the Skyline Trail because of the
steep cliffs.

Authorities want to interview the family again. They do not speak English.
Signs at the park are written in English and Spanish.

Peeks says people often visit state parks with a leisurely mentality, as if
entering a controlled environment.

"When you step out of your car in a state park, you're in a different
environment, and we very consciously make a point of trying to remind people
of that," Peek said.



http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/2949024/

[johns]

I've been there a bunch of times. What happens is there
is one spot across from the falls at the top of the trail
where the only way you can see the view is to walk
out on the flat beyond the wall. There is no fence,
and it looks like you would be OK to just step up
and walk out there. Problem is, there are deep ruts
where the flat turns over the edge, and a kid could
trip and slide down and over the edge. Also, there
are lots of bushes obscuring the view as you approach
the top. So it causes people to go too close to the
edge just beyond the low wall, and climb up on the
flat. The Park rangers know this, so they put a fence
beside the trail going up. Lots of signs too. But then
they have never cleared the brush at the top, or set
up a safe place to stand and look. You are just
suddenly there right out on the open cliff face.
We use to wear our cutoffs, and climb the falls
and jump into the pool below ... about 50 feet there.
Nobody ever said beans .. stupid kids we were.

johns