Archived Outdoors
Man dies at Deep Creek
A Georgia man was pronounced dead in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Thursday, Aug. 22, following a cardiac event.
Kirk Lazar, 70, of Evans, Georgia, was hiking the Juney Whank Falls Trail near the Deep Creek Campground with his wife when he collapsed around 4 p.m., about 100 yards from the trailhead. Bystanders immediately started CPR, and Swain County EMS took over upon their arrival. Emergency responders could not revive Lazar, and he passed away at approximately 4:45 p.m. Responding agencies included the National Park Service, Swain County Sheriff’s Department and Swain County EMS.
