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Georgia teen drowns at national preserve

Little River Falls at Little River Canyon National Preserve. (Credit: National Park Service)
Little River Falls at Little River Canyon National Preserve. (Credit: National Park Service)
By Steve Burns
June 5, 2017

For the second time recently, a Georgia resident died in a national preserve area in northeast Alabama, officials said.

Friday afternoon, 18-year-old Luis Rodriguez of Adairsville drowned at Little River Falls at the Little River Canyon National Preserve, according to the Rome News-Tribune/northwestgeorgianews.com.

The body was recovered about 2:40 p.m., according to the news website.

RELATED: Georgia man dies in fall at national preserve

The teen was swimming with friends when the incident occurred, according to a news release from park ranger Larry Beane. People nearby called 911, and several agencies responded.

Rescuers found Rodriguez at the bottom of the falls.

Last Tuesday, William Greg McCary, 57, of Rome, died after he fell about 50 feet after he climbed over a protective railing at the preserve, officials said.

The preserve is part of the National Park Service.

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