Man who died after jumping into Levisa Fork identified

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WYMT) - The Pikeville Fire Department responded to an incident Wednesday, assisting Kentucky State Police with a man who ran into the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River.

First responders said 51-year-old Darrel Gooslin of Pikeville ran from police during a traffic stop on US-23, before attempting to wade through the Levisa Fork behind Long John Silver’s in Pikeville.

Witnesses said Gooslin went underwater and never came to the surface. First responders who were on the scene say it was a terrible situation from start to finish.

”We have a job to do. And if rescue isn’t in the cards, then we have to go to recovery. Because that’s someone’s brother- that’s someone’s sister,” said Battalion Chief Mitch Case. “We go to that recovery side, so that there is that closure.”

The rescue, turned recovery, took hours. Though they said it was not the result they were hoping for, those involved say they did all they could, racing against the elements and the clock.

”In that water, your body- just in regular clothes- your body is gonna be possibly put into shock just from hitting that water. No matter how good of a swimmer you are,” said Case.

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