Woman Survives Jump Into Little River

A ranger patrolling Little River Road on Friday, July 31st, saw a woman in her 30s sitting on a rock at the edge of the river and was sufficiently concerned about her intentions to stop and check on her. He spoke to her repeatedly, but she didn’t acknowledge him. She then suddenly stood up and jumped into the swift-flowing water. The ranger ran down the river approximately 150 yards until he reached a place where he could get to the river safely and twice threw a float bag to her as she floated past. On once occasion, she picked it up and tossed it aside. Other rangers quickly gathered at the scene and searched the river bank intensively from 4:00 p.m. until it was too dark to see anything. Other rangers set up a stationary vantage point just above The Sinks, where they hoped to intercept her as she was swept past. Gatlinburg’s Rescue Squad and Rural Metro Ambulance also responded. They were not successful, and suspended the search until the next morning. They were still looking for her on Saturday when she reappeared at the Townsend Wye, about seven miles downstream from the point where she was last seen. She was in good condition. Rangers say that Carla S. Manzolini, 45, of Knoxville evidently got out of the river on the opposite side from Little River Road and walked up through the woods until she reached Round Top Trail, which leads to the Townsend Wye. She then crossed the river and walked into the parking area. Park volunteers who were directing traffic at the closed gate to Little River Road noticed her and notified rangers that she might be the individual they were looking for. Manzolini’s vehicle had been found Friday night at the Metcalf Bottoms picnic area, so rangers suspected that she was the subject of the search. She was transported to Blount Memorial Hospital for evaluation.