Accident Database

Report ID#68431

2018-04-28
accident date
Unidentified Man
victim
18
victim age
Caney Fork River
river
n/a
section
near Betty’s Island
location
n/a
gage
n/a
water level
N/A
river difficulty
PFD Not Worn or Present
cause code(s)
Does not Apply
injury type(s)
Inexperience
factors
Private
trip type
Other
boat type
status?
status

Description

Update: Rescue Squad locates missing 18-year-old kayaker’s body Apr 28, 2018 Smith County Insider, Gordonsville, TN UPDATED: (4/29/18 – 10:00 A.M.) Around 1:40 P.M. on Saturday afternoon, April 28, Smith County 911 received a call requesting a water rescue on the Caney Fork River near Betty’s Island. Reportedly, a father and son from Putnam County were kayaking on the Caney Fork River in Smith County when both of their kayaks overturned near Betty’s Island. The father was rescued by fishermen nearby, but the 18-year-old son was swept away by the swift water. The identity of the two kayakers was not immediately released. Both kayakers were reportedly not wearing life jackets. The Smith County Rescue Squad Water Rescue Team searched for the missing kayaker until dark on Saturday night, along with assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, TWRA, and the Putnam and Jackson County Swift Water Rescue Teams. Search efforts continued Sunday morning, April 29, at 7:00 A.M. Rescuers located the body of the 18-year-old missing kayaker around 7:30 A.M. on the bank of the river near Kirby Road on Sunday. Further information was not immediately available. Check back to https://smithcountyinsider.com for updates as this story develops.