OC EMS searching for Woman who fell on Whitewater River

The search continues for woman who fell from a waterfall in Oconee County. Shortly after 3:30pm Sunday, emergency crews were alerted to a fall on the Whitewater River in northern Oconee County. A caller reported that a party of four was at the river and a female had fallen from the top of the falls approximately 70 feet. Oconee County Fire Chief Charlie King reports that the caller met fire and rescue crews in the Muster Ground parking lot to the Bad Creek Complex to lead them to the scene. Crews searched the area until around 8:30pm, but have not been able to locate the female. The search included technical rescuers on land and divers in boats on Lake Jocassee. Limited access, local storms, and high river levels are adding to the already complex and dangerous situation. Rescue crews will resume their work at safe light today with the help of rescue teams from neighboring counties. A Command Post has been set up in the parking lot of the Bad Creek Complex. The Lower Whitewater Falls is the final set of waterfalls on the Whitewater River prior to emptying into Lake Jocassee. The falls has a total drop of around 600 feet.