Teen who drowned in Banner Elk attended nearby boarding school

BANNER ELK, N.C. — On Tuesday night there is new information on what a home for abused and neglected children in Avery County is doing after a teenager drowned less than a mile from campus.

Eyewitness News was in Banner Elk spoke with police about the investigation into the 14-year-old's death.

It was along the Elk River when firefighters and a swift water rescue team scrambled to get to a missing teenager.

About 50-yards down river is where they found him in the water, investigators believe he may have slipped on some rocks.

The 14-year-old, along with 40 other children lived here at the Grandfather Home for Children, just down the road from where he disappeared.

Police said he along with a house parent and three other children had gone to the river below this spillway where he became separated from the group.

"The water wasn't deep, but the rocks are extremely slick. It's really sad a hard thing especially when someone that young loses their life," said Chief Byron Clawson of the Banner Elk Police Department.

The Grandfather Home for Children said they had extra counselors and therapists on hand to help the children and faculty grieving from the loss.

They've also contacted state licensing agencies and national accreditation boards to make them aware of what happened

Police said the teenager was missing for nearly an hour before authorities were contacted about his disappearance.

"It's terrifying. Anytime you hear something like that about a kid it is really upsetting," said resident Sherri Ollis.

"I can't imagine what the parents are going through because I've got kids and grandkids," said resident Rosalie Erwin.

By lunchtime Tuesday, many of the people living in the Banner Elk area had heard about the drowning. Jack McGowen fishes nearby and says the river can be dangerous.

"The water is very fast and dangerous. It is probably 35-40 miles per hour down through there," said McGowen.

Police are not releasing the teenagers name because of his age, but did tell us he was from the Raleigh area.

They do believe what happened was an accident and that the 14-year-old possible struck his head while falling into the river.

WSOC