Ahead of Memorial Day weekend, TWRA officers have already investigated four fatal boating accidents and in each case, properly worn life jackets would have likely made a difference.
The forecast this weekend looks prime for boating and Tennesseeans are expected to saturate the waterways to kick-off the summer. What many of them will fail to do however is to properly wear a life jacket while boating. “When we say that the numbers don’t lie,” said TWRA Public Information Officer Matthew Cameron, “What we mean is that properly worn life jackets greatly increase your chances of survival while boating.”
Every year, the United States Coast Guard publishes their annual boating accident statistics and while the numbers may slightly deviate from year-to-year, two trends remain the same: 75% or more of boating accident victims drown and of them, 85% are not wearing a life jacket.
Just Monday afternoon on Cherokee Lake in Hamblen County, James Bradley Campbell, 23, of Talbott, and Jonathon Derrick Jones were kayak fishing in a cove near Panther Creek State Park. Mr. Campbell, who was not wearing a life jacket, overturned his kayak and went overboard. Mr. Jones entered the water but was unable to locate him and flagged down a passing boater who called 911 for help. Members of the Hamblen County Rescue Squad recovered Campbell’s body at 7:36 p.m. The incident remains under investigation by TWRA.
Two weeks ago on Douglas Lake, Richard Rolen, 70, of Dandridge, fell overboard while fishing and was discovered by some fishermen in the area. When he was recovered, Mr. Rolen was wearing an inflatable PFD that was partially inflated. The incident remains under investigation as to the cause of the partial inflation, however it appears that the jacket was not properly buckled at the time of the accident.
In two other incidents, Jeremy Cross, 36, is still missing after his kayak overturned on Percy Priest Lake in early April and about a week ago, the body of 33-year-old Adam Vongsa was recovered after his boat capsized in the Cumberland River below Cheatham Dam. In both cases, properly worn life jackets would have likely saved the lives of both men.
“Our message to boaters and anglers has always been to wear a life jacket. Our message today is that those life jackets must be of the appropriate size and properly worn to be effective,” said Mr. Cameron. “They are nearly always the difference between life and death on the water.”