Douglasville Woman Airlifted To Safety From Little River Canyon

FORT PAYNE, AL — A Douglasville woman was rescued by helicopter Monday after she slipped and was washed over the edge of a 35-foot drop at Little River Canyon Preserve.

Park Ranger Matt Switzer told The Gadsden Times that Kenzie Wetzel, 21, was walking in an area above the Little River Falls when she slipped on a rock and fell into the pool below.

Wetzel was able to climb onto rocks in the middle of the pool to wait for help. Rescue workers — including National Park Service rangers, Cherokee County Sheriff’s deputies, the Fort Payne Fire Department, Alabama state troopers and others — helped with the operation.

After Wetzel’s injuries were assessed, a helicopter lifted her out and delivered her to a parking lot. Another helicopter took her to a nearby hospital.

Before Wetzel’s close call, two other people — one of them also from Georgia — had drowned in the Little River over the previous five days

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports also that Dustin Garcia, 19, of Kennesaw drowned on May 19 while swimming with a friend. A GoFundMe page has been set up for Garcia's funeral expenses.

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