RedactedNarrative: All investigative details were provided by Great Smoky Mountain National Park Ranger, Officer as they were the lead investigating agency. The detailed narrative has been copied from the National Park Service Incident Record NP22378344. 
  
  ***  INITIAL RESPONSE
  On December 16, 2022 at 3:48 PM, Great Smoky Mountains National Park dispatch 
  broadcasted a call at The Sinks. A kayaker was seen entering a rapid and never resurfaced. I established incident command. I ordered resources and made the following initial assignments while I was enroute:
  · Little River Road was closed to inbound traffic at the Townsend Wye and Metcalfe 
  Bottoms
  · American Medical Response (AMR) started an ALS ambulance
  · NPS Rescue 2 responded from Cades Cove
  · Townsend Area Volunteer Fire Department (TAVFD) was notified we needed swift 
  water resources for mutual aid assistance
  · On scene, I ordered Blount Special Operations Response Team (BSORT) for mutual aid assistance
  
  SCENE DESCRIPTION - TIMELINE
  At The Sinks, I located a witness, who was kayaking with the victim. Witness identified the victim. Witness told me he has been paddling with VICTIM for years. They met at the Townend Wye at about 2:20 PM and they were on the river around 2:40 PM. Witness stated he was upriver from VICTIM. They were paddling through the rapids known as “The Meanies.” Witness watched VICTIM go over the first drop. When Witness went over the first drop, he observed that VICTIM was not in his kayak; that he was in the water. VICTIM was already midway or so to the next drop. Once Witness was over the next drop, all he saw was VICTIM’s paddle and boat. About 5 minutes later Witness saw VICTIM’s personal floatation device (PFD) come from the rapid. After about 5 more minutes Witness saw VICTIM’s helmet come out of the rapid. This indicated that VICTIM was likely entrapped underwater, and the water pressure stripped off VICTIM’s PFD and helmet.
  
  RECOVERY
  On December 16, 2022, NPS, TAVFD, and BSORT attempted to rescue/recover VICTIM. Combined, this team consisted of qualified swift water rescuers, rescue divers, and technical rope experts. The leadership from these teams felt the risk of putting rescuers in the water was very high because of the river’s level and flow rate. Nevertheless, this team attempted to located VICTIM with poles and various hooks. We continued searching until approximately 8:14 PM, at which point we stopped all operations for the night. 
  
  On December 17, 2022, NPS, TAVFD, and BSORT resources deployed again. VICTIM was not visible in the water. We utilized similar methods of searching from the previous night, but were unable to locate VICTIM due to high water levels. NPS resources also searched downriver from The Meanies by raft and shore. BSORT resources deployed divers below the Sinks. The divers searched areas directly under the Sinks.
  
  On December 18, 2022, NPS resources searched the river from the shoreline and monitored the water level throughout the day.
  
  On December 19, 2022, at approximately 8:15 AM, an NPS employee could occasionally see yellow in the water where VICTIM was last seen. I responded to the Sinks and could also see the yellow, which we assumed was VICTIM’s dry suit. I requested our NPS swift water team and technical rescue team. The team used a raft and rigged multiple rope systems to accomplish the following:
  · Ropes were tied to each corner of the raft. Then opposite ends of the ropes were attached to belay devices from the shore.
  · The raft was moved into position using the ropes system. This system stabilized the raft in the water. It allowed for small movements, with each rope capable of taking in or letting out line, so the raft could be placed precisely.
  · With the raft in position, a stabilizing line was pulled across the river. The stabilizing line was push underwater with a hook attached to a pole. This allowed the sta
  