While kayaking on Lake Emory, two fishermen made a shocking discovery, and they documented their urgent call to 911.
On the morning of September 10, at approximately 7:45 am, two fishermen alerted authorities to a dead body in the Little Tennessee River, near the Macon County Greenway in North Carolina, USA.
The deceased was later identified as a female, and her body was retrieved from the water.
The disturbing discovery and the fisherman’s subsequent pleas for assistance have gained widespread attention through a video shared on social media. Warning – Distressing footage:
The video features Mark Wilkins, who is seen navigating the lake and telling his ‘buddy’ off-camera that he believes he has spotted a ‘human being’ in the water.
Upon realizing the gravity of the situation, he is heard repeatedly saying: ‘Oh my god, a dead body’, before contacting law enforcement.
During the 911 call, he describes how they had left the boat ramp and were heading towards the water station discharge and the dam when he noticed a ‘hand’ protruding, and what appeared to be a decomposing body.
When asked if he was still on the water, Mark confirmed: ‘Yeah, I’m sitting here looking at it’, though he expressed uncertainty about whether it was a Halloween decoration or a prank. However, his fishing ‘buddy’, John, also commented that it resembled ‘a person’ and ‘a girl’.
Mark then recited a prayer: “Dear lord, please rest that person’s soul.”
The fishermen noted that their day began ‘normally’ but became suspicious of something in the water upon observing a ‘weird oil slick’.
Mark explained that he later shared the footage on YouTube for ‘educational purposes’ and expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased woman.
The Franklin Police Department initiated an investigation in September, which is still in its early stages, according to Fox Carolina. Authorities have yet to determine the woman’s identity, cause of death, or any additional information.
The police department has been contacted for further updates on the situation.
In the event of encountering a similar distressing situation, Aftermath, a company specializing in crime scene, trauma cleaning, and biohazard removal, advises against touching anything. Not only could you compromise a potential crime scene, but deceased bodies may contain potentially infectious bacteria.
They caution against contact with skin or body fluids, as bloodborne pathogens present in the body could pose a risk of infection. The site recommends notifying law enforcement and medical professionals, and to provide them with detailed information on how you discovered the scene.