Woman drowns on Nolichucky River while on church rafting trip

A woman on a church rafting trip drowned on the Nolichucky River in Mitchell County, N.C. when her boat capsized. The woman was rafting with a group from Odom’s Chapel Freewill Baptist Church in Bakersville, N.C. Officials have identified the woman as 64-year-old Louvella Yelton Arrowood of Bakersville. Her obituary says she served as a nurse for many years.

Witnesses say Arrowood was wearing a life vest and a helmet when she went underwater. She remained submerged for 5 to 8 minutes before being pulled out. CPR was performed at the scene but was unsuccessful. “The area where the victim went in is called the ‘Quarter-mile Rapids’ because for a quarter mile stretch there is nothing but rapids,” Officer William Boone said. “The river was high at the time of the raft flipping over.” 

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