3 people drowned in Middle TN this weekend

[southkogs]

The stories are all collected HERE.

I've been to the dam, the falls and was on the lake about 2 miles from the collision. Details on the wreck are pretty sketchy, but it was two big boats and the drowned man went down with the cruiser. At both the dam and the falls, the undertow musta' got hold of the swimmers and they weren't wearing life jackets.

Y'all watch yourselves out there. Know when you need to be more on guard than usual, when even a strong swimmer should be wearing a PFD and where it's non-sensical to get into the water. It happens so very fast ...

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: 3 people drowned in Middle TN this weekend

Always sad to hear of stories like those.

 

[moosehead]

Re: 3 people drowned in Middle TN this weekend

Very sad. Though I am appreciative of the reminders about how paramount safety is aboard. The attached video clip made it appear that the water was benign, though the article made it sound as though warnings were posted.

 

[southkogs]

Re: 3 people drowned in Middle TN this weekend

...video clip made it appear that the water was benign, though the article made it sound as though warnings were posted.

Burgess Falls / Center Hill Lake - Caney Fork River - people like to swim at the base of the falls. The rangers have been fighting drownings for a few years now. Signs are posted and they do their best to chase folks outta' the pool, but you can't stop the foolish from being what they are.

Walter Hill Dam / Stones River - The water isn't all that intimidating and I'm not sure what signs are posted, but what most people don't pay attention to is that moving water has a lot of power. Waterflow over that dam into the pool below can suck you under FAST. If you can keep your head and push out from the dam about 4 feet, you can probably break free ... but that's tough to do for anyone, let alone a kid who's scared and not skilled swimming (presumption on my part).

Percy Priest Lake - The water was nice and calm on the lake on Sunday. Someone (dunno' who) wasn't paying attention. We can run some pretty big boats on the lake/impound, so that 31' wasn't unusual. I'm guessing from what I've seen the hit occurred near the mouth of the marina channel, so someone was heading in and someone out and one wasn't watching close enough (at least). Priest has a lot of traffic on it on nice days, and there are a BUNCH of folks who haven't a clue as to what they're doing. You really need your situational awareness on busier days out there.

Just sad to see.