ELIZABETHTON (AP) - A Louisiana man and his teenage son drowned Thursday in an East Tennessee mountain waterfall pool while hiking on the Appalachian Trail.
Carter County authorities identified the victims as Dwight F. Cope, 42, and Dagan Cope, 15, both of Breaux Bridge, La.
According to the Johnson City Press, the victims' detailed hiking logs informed authorities the father and son had been hiking for 13 days when another hiker spotted the man's body floating in the pool below Laurel Falls on Wednesday morning.
Because two backpacks were found beside the pool, Carter County Sheriff Chris Mathes said authorities immediately believed there was a second victim.
The rescue squad flew over the area in a helicopter Thursday morning and saw the youth's body in the water. It was recovered by a diver.
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