Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Woman’s body found under ski lift at Tennessee theme park

Emergency officials pronounced the woman dead at Anakeesta theme park on Thursday night

Bevan Hurley
Friday 29 July 2022 10:59 EDT
Comments
Twenty one people rescued from theme park ride in California

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Police are investigating the death of a woman who fell from a chairlift at the Anakeesta theme park in Tennessee.

Emergency services were called at 7.41pm on Thursday to reports that a woman had fallen from the lift that takes visitors into the mountaintop park in Gatlinburg, WBIR reported.

Officers from the Gatlinburg Fire & Rescue Department pronounced the woman dead at the scene, they said in a statement.

Witnesses told WLVT News they saw a woman in her late 20s fall from the lift about three-quarters of the way up the hill.

Jeffery McConnell told the news site that he and other visitors had been trying to alert the woman that her safety railing was up.

Mr McConnell and a second witness told WLVT News that Anakeesta continued to operate the chairlift for several minutes after the woman fell.

In a statement to WBIR, Anakeesta Vice President of Marketing and Sale Michele Canney said: “A tragic incident occurred this evening. 911 was called immediately. Our hearts are with the family of the deceased.”

A woman has died at the Anakeesta theme park in Tennessee
A woman has died at the Anakeesta theme park in Tennessee (Anakeesta/Facebook)

Gatlinburg police and the Sevier County Medical Examiner’s office also responded to the scene and are investigating how the woman died.

Her name has not yet been released.

A message on Anakeesta’s website on Friday morning said its Chondola ride was closed. The park was due to open at 10am EDT.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in