The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) responded to a missing person call at approximately 4:40 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 17, near the Anderson Beach Recreation Area on Percy Priest Lake.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a man and woman were on the lake in a pontoon boat and had entered the water for a swim using a single pool noodle for flotation. During that time, the pontoon boat began to drift away.
The male subject attempted to swim back to the vessel but went underwater and did not resurface. The female, aided by the pool noodle, remained in the water and drifted for approximately one hour before being rescued by occupants of a passing vessel.
First responders from the TWRA, Nashville Office of Emergency Management, Nashville Fire Department, and Metro Nashville Police Department launched a search using side-scan sonar in multiple areas. In the absence of a confirmed last-seen location, crews expanded their efforts to several search areas.
The search was suspended at approximately 9:30 p.m. Monday and is scheduled to resume at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, with additional resources to support a large-scale search effort. This incident remains under investigation.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is responsible for protecting, managing, and conserving fish and wildlife resources for the benefit of Tennesseans and visitors. The Agency also promotes public safety through law enforcement and boater safety education on Tennessee’s waterways.
