An American television presenter has died after falling more than 55 metres over a waterfall in North Carolina.
Taylor Terrell's death is being called "a fatal accident" by her friends and colleagues.
It is understood Ms Terrell was wading in the stream that flows over the Rainbow Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park when she lost her footing and was carried away by the current.
Ms Terrell had taken time off to celebrate her 25th birthday on Friday, the day after she died.
She started her career at 41NBC as an intern before moving on to become a general assignment reporter and a weekend anchor.
More recently, she anchored 41NBC News at Daybreak and 41Today. She also regularly reported for the station's education series, What's Right with Our Schools.
"To say that this loss is devastating for us here at 41NBC and to her family is an understatement. Taylor was scheduled to be off today to celebrate her 25th birthday. Instead, we're remembering her spirit, her optimism, and her work," the network said in a statement.
"She touched so many people through her stories, through interviews here at the station on Daybreak and 41Today, and through the people she met while working with different volunteer groups as she tried to make a difference in people's lives."
In an interview with WSB-TV Atlanta Taylor's father, Luis Terrell, said he had "a feeling of emptiness. A feeling I have never had before".
Her brother Russell Terrell described her as "the gold standard for how a person should really live".
Newshub.
