Hixson, Tennessee.According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), a 51-year-old man from Rock Spring, Georgia, died on Saturday after plunging into the Tennessee River to recover a portion of a damaged boat platform.
Witnesses report that at approximately 1:15 p.m., a man from a runabout boat leaped into the water to retrieve a portion of its swim platform that had detached near Dogwood Drive on the Chickamauga Reservoir.
Victim Was Not Wearing a Life Jacket
Authorities verified that the man’s failure to wear a life jacket as he dove into the ocean was a crucial element that most likely had a part in the catastrophe. He never came back, so the TWRA and the people of Hamilton County conducted a thorough search.
Around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, the man’s body was recovered from a depth of 15 to 18 feet using Side Scanning Sonar and a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV).
Until the next of kin is notified, the man’s name has not yet been made public.
Sixteenth Boating Fatality in Tennessee This Year
According to the TWRA, this tragedy is the 16th deadly boating incident that has occurred in Tennessee in 2025. Officials are asking the public to be alert on the water as the busiest boating season continues.
TWRA stated in a public safety advisory after the incident that wearing a life jacket can make the difference between life and death.
When sailing, do you always wear a life jacket? Contact us at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com with your opinions and water safety advice.
