Scene of Blount County drowning Saturday afternoon, "The Sinks"; Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Swimmers are still heading to "The Sinks," one day after a Florida girl drowned in a nearby waterfall.
"One thing, it's all breathtaking, beautiful," said swimmer Nick D'Amico, "but there are always hazards in places you've never swam before."
Officials say 17-year-old Amber Rose Mirisola from Mount Dore, Florida was standing on top of a waterfall at "the Sinks" in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, when she lost her footing and fell.
She dropped 15 feet before hitting the water.
"We don't deem (the Sinks) a place safe. There are lots of hidden hazards as far as blocked out crops, and sometimes sunken logs," said GSMNP spokesperson Bob Miller.
There have been injuries in the past at the popular swimming spot. Bo Bradford suffered spinal injuries when he dove into the waters years ago. He's now confined to a wheelchair.
"Jumped up and dove, got a little too far over the edge, hit a rock and immediately my body just quivered and I tried to get to the surface and I couldn't," he recalled in a February 2011 interview.
It's news of what has happened that has swimmer D'Amico concerned.
"The white water... you never know how deep it is. It can be a foot deep or 20 feet deep, you never know," he added.
This is the second drowning at the park this year. A Texas man died in a tubing accident in June on the Little River near the Townsend Wye.
Previous story: "Update: Name of drowning victim released"
Authorities have released the name of a girl who drowned Saturday afternoon in Blount County.
Officials say 17-year-old Amber Rose Mirisola from Mount Dora, Florida was standing on top of a waterfall at "The Sinks" in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, when she lost her footing and fell.
She dropped 15 feet before hitting the water.
The girl became trapped between two rocks, and was held there by the strong water that was rushing onto her from the waterfall.
Officials also say that visitors tried to form a human chain to pull her out of the river, but the current was too strong.
Rescue teams were eventually able to pull her body free using a rope and pulley system.
No else was injured.
Park officials said that there are signs all over the park warning that it is a dangerous area to swim in, but many people still swim there.
Previous story
The body of a young girl who drowned Saturday afternoon has been found.
Search and rescue diving teams recovered her body around 7:00 p.m. Saturday night.
Officials do not have any other details at this time.
Previous story
Officials say that an apparent drowning has occurred at "The Sinks," a popular swimming hole in the Smokies.
Blount County emergency crews responded to the call around 3:30 Saturday afternoon, and are currently still on the scene.
A National Park Spokesman has confirmed that a young girl went into the water just before 3:30 and did not resurface.
A search for her body is being conducted by the Blount County Sheriff's Office Rescue Team and the Townsend Swift Water Rescue Team.
They have not yet recovered her body.
We will continue to update you on 10 News and WBIR.com as more information becomes available.