A tragic end befell a young hiker from Gainesville, who lost his life after a treacherous fall into the cold waters of the Tallulah River. 19-year-old Exauce T. Kabeya took an ill-fated tumble above Oceana Falls in Tallulah Gorge State Park, perishing in a hazardous section of the river known for its rapid flows and steep terrain.

Authorities were alerted to the hiking mishap on May 3, around mid-day, when Kabeya's fateful slip led to a frantic search and rescue operation game wardens of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources were among the first on the scene, and incidentally encountering the familial worst-case scenario. According to Patch, the young hiker plunged into the river and didn't make it back to the surface, setting the stage for a grim discovery.

The recovery effort was both swift and expansive with participation from numerous agencies including the Georgia State Patrol Aviation, Hall County Sheriff's Office, Habersham County Emergency Services, and others, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. Teams worked tirelessly, scouring the harsh landscape and implementing drone technology in an exhaustive search for the unfortunate teenager.