On july 4, 2013 at approximately 09:00am, seven individuals met in asheville, nc to plan a kayaking trip.  They decided to paddle the big east fork of the pigeon river in haywood county.  At approximately 12:00pm, the group drove three vehicles into haywood county.  They parked one vehicle at the big east fork trail head.  This was to be the group's take out point.  They then took two vehicles to graveyard fields off the blue ridge parkway.  This is located at the headwaters of the big east fork river.  The group then hiked down from the parkway to the river.  They started their trip at what is known as the skinny dip hole.  On this day, the weather consisted of hard rain and flooding waters with high winds.  After seeing the water and observing the weather conditions, the group discussed the safety of paddling the river.  They decided to paddle the river after considering the weather.  
The group came to a set of falls that was said to have been a class five rapid.  Two kayakers paddled the rapid without trouble.  A third kayaker paddled the rapid but had a hard time navigating the rapid.  At this time, victim attempted to navigate the rapid.  Upon entering the rapid, he was swept to the far right of the river and into the overhanging tree branches.  He then made it through the overhanging branches and to the bottom portion of the rapid.  At this time victim flipped his kayak in the rapids.  He then exited his kayak into the water.  He then became caught in a recirculating current for a short period of time.  After exiting the recirculating current, he started floating down the river face up in the water.  One individual threw a rope to victim in an attempt to rescue him from the rapids.  Victim was described to be very dazed and to the point of unconsciousness and was unable to grab the rope.  He then floated on down the river and through another set of rapids.  The group then began to search the river for victim but was unable to locate him.  It was approximately 13:30pm at this point in the day.  They then hiked out to the big east fork trail head where they were able to locate officer with the usfs  a search and rescue was then conducted to find victim.  Over the next two days, search and rescue groups searched the river.  At approximately 19:30pm on july 5, 2013, the body of victim was found on the big east fork river.  On july 6, 2013 at approximately 1:30am, the body of victim was finally recovered from the river.  There were numerous cuts and bruises on the body including one located on victim's head.  His kayak and paddle was also recovered from the river.
CRUSO