Hayesville High School Senior Loses Life in Tragic Drowning Accident.
News May 21, 2019Official Press Release from Clay County Sheriff’s Office:
Hayesville, NC – (May 20, 2019) Clay County has lost a friend to all who knew him, a model student, a great athlete and all around fine young man and citizen that wasn’t able to call Hayesville home for nearly long enough. Steven Plummer had only been a resident of Hayesville for a short time but the positive impact that he had on our small community was evident yesterday by the massive turn out of support. The loss felt by his family is shared county wide today and it can be seen and felt throughout the community where ever you go.
At approximately 3:00 PM on Monday afternoon Clay County Deputies were dispatched to the area of the TVA Circle near the “saddle dam” off Hinton Center Rd. in response to a drowning victim, 17-year-old Steven Plummer of Hayesville. Steven was a Senior at Hayesville High School this year and was with several of his classmates at the time of the incident. According to eyewitness statements, Steven was attempting to swim from the shoreline to a pontoon boat a short distance away when he began to struggle at about the half way point. Several friends say they saw he was in distress and immediately went to his aid but efforts to reach him in time were unsuccessful.
The 911 call from a student at the scene generated a full response of every emergency resource available in the county. Additional help from Towns and Henderson Counties responded as well as NC State Wildlife and TVA. Hayesville Schools Superintendent along with teachers and staff as well as County Manager and School Board members were all on scene assisting emergency personnel with the mass of students and families that turned out in one of the largest support efforts seen. The Hinton Center was a huge asset by providing a place for friends and loved ones to congregate and meet with grief counselors from the school and Appalachian Community Services while awaiting further news.
At approximately 6:20 PM members of the Towns County Dive Team located Steven’s body in about 23’ of water and about 150’ to 200’ from shore, the same general area identified earlier by eyewitnesses. Local M.E. Kyle Cody was on scene and performed a preliminary examination that revealed no contributing factors to Steven’s accidental drowning.
Hayesville student loses life in Lake Chatuge
News May 21, 2019HAYESVILLE, NC – On Monday, May 20, a senior Hayesville High School student was reported to authorities as missing while swimming in Lake Chatuge with classmates. The incident was reported by a Towns County official to have occurred east of the Lake Chatuge Dam in Clay County, NC. The student was identified as an 18-year-old male participating in “Senior Skip Day” prior to graduation.
“In the early afternoon of May 20, 2019, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Clay County Fire and Rescue, EMS and numerous other personnel from fire departments throughout Clay County responded to the TVA ‘Circle’ for the report of a drowning. The victim was later found deceased and the name is not being released at this time,” Clay County Sheriff Bobby Deese said.
Towns County Fire and Rescue Water Dive Team responded to North Carolina’s request for mutual aid.
An official press release is expected to be issued by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office later today.