Water Safety Stressed After New River Drowning - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

Water Safety Stressed After New River Drowning

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The body of a Fayette County man is pulled ashore after a four day search his family can now start to grieve their loss.

Fisherman found the body of Bradley Alexander Senior Sunday three miles down stream from where he went missing on Wednesday after being thrown from a raft.

He was reportedly not wearing a life jacket at the time. So far this year in Southern West Virginia there have been at least three casualties on the river.

Rudy Paugh a Ranger with the Department of Natural Resources safety on the river is a top priority. "We can avoid a lot of tragedies if more people wore their life jackets."

"It's required everyone has a life jacket and on board one throw able safety device and also a fire extinguisher," said Rita Meador Co-Owner of Mountain Boat Sales in Beaver.

The National Park Service is hosting a weekend full of water safety activities.

Saturday, May 26th from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. Rangers will have an exhibit on display describing water safety at Sandstone Falls Boardwalk.

On Sunday May 27th rangers will be at Bluestone Lake to walk one on one with the public about safety on the waterways and to also take participants out on the water from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday May 28th at the Sandstone Visitor Center rangers will make themselves available to questions about water safety beginning at 1 p.m.