Accident Database

Report ID#69394

2018-05-06
accident date
Anthony Cooper
victim
31
victim age
Elk River
river
n/a
section
Near Elkton TN; put in at Veto Rd
location
n/a
gage
High
water level
I
river difficulty
PFD Not Worn or Present
cause code(s)
Does not Apply
injury type(s)
Cold Water, High Water, Solo Paddling, Inexperience
factors
Private
trip type
Other
boat type
status?
status

Description

According to news reports: paddling alone to go fishing, PFD in boat behind the seat. The Elk River is very cold year-round. Put into river in Giles County near Veto Rd. Found boat with life jacket floating downstream. Media reports: http://www.waaytv.com/content/news/Crews-find-body-of-missing-Giles-County-kayaker-482291071.html Posted By: Patrick Avry Search teams found the body of a man in the Elk River Wednesday night, three days after he was last seen kayaking on the river. Teams found the body of Anthony Cooper, 31, around 9 p.m. Wednesday, Giles County Emergency Management Agency Director Jeremy Holley said. Cooper’s body was found in the water south of the Elkton boat ramp, not far from where he put in Sunday, Holley said. Searchers had been working with the Tennessee Valley Authority, who reduced the amount of water being released from its Tims Ford dam upriver. According to Holley, the lowered water level on the river was what helped them find Cooper’s body. Holey said Cooper was not wearing a flotation device. From Andrea White (ACA) On a different note, I was at TWRA this week doing a broadcast on paddling safety and picked up a tidbit that never made the news about one of our moving water fatalities last year. When they recovered the kayak angler on the Elk River in Tennessee this time last year it turns out his fishing anchor was wrapped around his ankle. Very sad, but clearly a teachable moment with the growth of kayak fishing, especially on moving water.