Kayaker, 38, Drowns

On Sequatchie River Outing

The Chattanoogan.com

Sunday, July 8, 2018

A 38-year-old Bell, Fla., man lost his life on the Sequatchie River in Marion County on Sunday. TWRA officers responded along with the Whitwell Police Department and Marion County officers to a call regarding a kayak incident below the low head dam at Ketner's Mill at approximately 3:45 p.m.

Witnesses said Daniel J. Atkinson, along with his wife and two children, went to the Ketner's Mill area to swim and kayak. Witnesses said the children were swimming and the wife took a kayak out to practice maneuvering. The wife returned to shore and the husband took the kayak out to share maneuvering techniques. He quickly paddled towards the low head dam.

Witnesses said the water from the dam overturned the kayak and the man was pulled under by the strong current.  Witnesses were able to pull the man to the shore and perform CPR until EMS arrived. He was transported to Parkridge West Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.