A Springfield man has died after falling in the Indian Creek drainage at the Buffalo National River late Saturday afternoon. Forty-six-year-old Brad Lee Thomas was pronounced dead on the scene after life-saving efforts were unsuccessful.
According to the National Park Service, the Buffalo National River’s dispatch center was notified just before 5 of a hiker falling near the Eye of the Needle in the Ponca Wilderness. Thomas was reportedly hiking with a group in the undeveloped wilderness area when he fell nearly 20 feet.
Dispatchers were advised Thomas was unresponsive, and CPR was in progress. Witnesses conducted CPR and rendered aid until rangers and first responders arrived on scene. Thomas was later pronounced dead.
The National Park Service was assisted on the scene by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the Mennonite Disaster Service, volunteers from the Buffalo National River Search and Rescue Team, the Arkansas Army National Guard, the Harrison Fire Department, the Newton County Office of Emergency Management, North Arkansas Regional Medical Center and Newton County Baptist Church.
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