Fatal fall victim at Grandfather Mountain identified
Oct. 25—LINVILLE — Avery County authorities have identified the man who was found at the bottom of a cliff after he fell to his death at Grandfather Mountain on Sunday, Oct. 23.
At approximately 10 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 23, an emergency call reporting a missing person was dispatched from Grandfather Mountain. The person had last been seen at one of the park's overlooks.
After a search, rescue crews found a white male, Todd A. Buckman, 52, of Troy, New Hampshire, at the base of the cliff and recovered his body. According to the Avery County Sheriff's Office, the incident appears to be an accidental fall.
"The investigation is ongoing," said Sheriff Mike Henley. "As far as we know, it was an accident."
Henley went on to say that Buckman's sister was the one who placed the emergency call. Apparently, Buckman and his sister were hiking together when they got separated.
This was an isolated occurrence, and Grandfather Mountain continues to operate under normal park hours.
