Victim in accidental fall at Grandfather Mountain identified

A preliminary review by the Avery County, North Carolina Sheriff’s Office says a man hiking at Grandfather Mountain fell to his death early Sunday.

The attraction’s Stewardship Foundation said in a report that the victim, identified by law enforcement as Todd Buckman, 53, formerly of New Hampshire, was reported missing at 10 a.m. and was last seen at a park overlook.

Buckman’s body was spotted near the base of an overlook and then recovered. Investigators say the incident appears to be isolated and accidental.

(IMAGE: Avery County, NC Sheriff’s Office / Official Facebook / DPI)