Another death reported at NC's Elk River Falls. Man jumps in, gets tangled in debris, officials say

For the second time in six weeks, a drowning is being reported at North Carolina's Elk River Falls.

The latest fatality occurred around 5 p.m. Sunday, and involved a man who jumped off a small ledge near the bottom of the falls, struggled briefly in the water, then disappeared, reports the Avery Journal.

The Associated Press later identified the victim as 32-year-old Gogineni Nagarjuna and reported he was at the waterfall with friends. Fox Carolina identified him Nagarjuna Gogineni and said he was a Charlotte resident.

He was sucked under by the swift current and then got "caught up in debris below the surface," reported TV station WBTV. He was not wearing a life vest at the time, the station reported.

It's the second time this season someone has died at the site of the falls in Avery County, and the sixteenth death in recent years, reported WBTV.

On May 20, Thomas Edward McCardle Jr., 26, of Martins Ferry, Ohio, died after sliding off a rock into the water at the bottom of Elk River Falls, according to the Avery County Sheriff's Office.

McCardle was got caught in "very strong currents due to the previous very heavy rain" and was dragged under, officials said. His body was not found for 11 days.

This story was originally published July 2, 2018 at 10:32 AM.