Officials identify woman killed in Tallulah Gorge fall
A Blue Ridge woman who died Thursday after falling from an overlook in Tallulah Gorge has been identified.
Recovering 58-year-old Nancy Moore Smith’s body required a complex operation involving multiple local and state agencies. Rescue personnel from both Habersham and Rabun counties rappelled to the bottom of the gorge and used long lines for the recovery, Georgia Department of Natural Resources spokesman Mark McKinnon said.
The DNR’s Law Enforcement Critical Incident Reconstruction Team is investigating the incident, McKinnon said.
Agencies initially responded to a report that someone had fallen or jumped from a high ledge, Habersham County Emergency Services Director Chad Black said. He confirmed that Smith died in an email to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The gorge is one of the largest canyons on the East Coast and is nearly 1,000 feet deep at some points.
Authorities did not share the circumstances leading up to Smith’s fall.
Black said several agencies were involved in the operation, including Habersham emergency services, DNR, the Habersham sheriff’s office, Tallulah Falls fire and police departments, Rabun County Fire Department and Habersham Search and Rescue.
About the Author
Henri Hollis is a reporter and restaurant critic for the Food & Dining team. Formerly a freelance writer and photographer with a focus on food and restaurants, he joined the AJC full-time in January 2021, first covering breaking news. He is a lifelong Atlantan and a graduate of Georgia Tech.
