Found Deceased TN- 3 fishermen, (43 yr old & two 15 yr olds), Savannah, 22 Feb 2020

[TaylorJ4]

We have flood waters everywhere and the amount of water going thru the game right now is unbelievable.

 

[mlhenn]

Search for missing fishermen at Pickwick Dam enters day 3

As of Wednesday, this effort is now shifting from a rescue to a recovery effort.

Swift water has slowed the search effort. The Tennessee Valley Authority has slowed the flow of water through the dam to help. It's believed the three lost engine power and went over the dam.

 

[watcher9]

Updated this morning. TWR found camera with boat captured video.

UPDATE: TWRA says video captured missing Tennessee boaters at Pickwick Dam lock

 

[watcher9]

Another link mentioning camera footage of the boat.

Update: Water levels dropping on Tennessee River as search continues for missing boaters

 

[MimosaMornings]

Update: Water levels dropping on Tennessee River as search continues for missing boaters

“The water levels in the river were beginning to subside compared to their levels over the weekend. The spillways at Pickwick had 184,000 cubic feet of water passing through them per second, causing the river to look like a large place for whitewater rafting with its waves and whitecaps.

The banks of the river, still with rings of debris from flooding a week before, took on large waves as the force of the spill caused a large turning of the water.

“If you watch a log or something else floating in the water, you’ll see this looks like a big washing machine pushing the water in circles,” Snider-Spencer said while looking at the river at the base of the dam as water from the spillway pushed away from the dam with some to the side away from the locks and eventually circling back to the dam.”

Wow. The way it is described in the article sounds like it was treacherous boating on the water that day.

 

[bwt42]

We have flood waters everywhere and the amount of water going thru the game right now is unbelievable.

How terrifying. No way to escape as you realize your going over the dam.

 

[mlhenn]

TWRA transitions to search and recovery for three missing boaters


On Wednesday, 20 boats and 70 volunteers searched 50 miles of the Tennessee River on Wednesday. Search crews conducted scans and grid searches using side-scan sonar in an attempt to locate the missing boaters.

Over the last three days TWRA alongside multiple rescue agencies and a Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter assisted with the search.

**investigators said the boaters had not been recovered and the search was continuing.

 

[mlhenn]

TWRA: 'We see no chance of survival'; search for Pickwick Lake boaters becomes recovery effort

So terribly sad...
This is now a recovery mission.
That’s the message the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency gave the families on Wednesday morning before identifying 43-year-old Kenneth Driver as one of the boaters along with his 15-year-old son and another 15-year-old from Obion County.

“The adult and two 15-year-old boys were seen in a picture from a camera above the (Pickwick) dam more than four days ago,” said TWRA spokesperson Amy Snider-Spencer.

“Given the water flow, air temperature, water temperature and the condition of the boat when it was found on Monday, we see no chance of survival at this point.

 

[Tripod]

TWRA: 'We see no chance of survival'; search for Pickwick Lake boaters becomes recovery effort

So terribly sad...
This is now a recovery mission.
That’s the message the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency gave the families on Wednesday morning before identifying 43-year-old Kenneth Driver as one of the boaters along with his 15-year-old son and another 15-year-old from Obion County.

“The adult and two 15-year-old boys were seen in a picture from a camera above the (Pickwick) dam more than four days ago,” said TWRA spokesperson Amy Snider-Spencer.

“Given the water flow, air temperature, water temperature and the condition of the boat when it was found on Monday, we see no chance of survival at this point.

Such a tragic event for them and their loved ones. I'm so sad Praying for their recovery and safety for the searchers.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

What a tragedy. I am so sorry for them and their families.

 

[moonriverfarm]

I guess they had no time to jump out of the boat before it approached the dam?

 

[mlhenn]

I guess they had no time to jump out of the boat before it approached the dam?

IMO, I feel that’s prob what happened. They were too close to the dam by the time they knew they weren’t getting that boat started again. If they jumped, they’d get caught in the current & be swept into the dam anyway. Again, MOO

 

[Luckyzmom]

Prayers for the recovery of these fishermen, hope they can go home to be laid to rest properly . Heartbreaking loss so sad ..

 

[mlhenn]

Tennessee River Valley News

Feb 27 45 Mins ago
DAY FOUR UPDATE ON SEARCH FOR MISSING BOATERS NEAR PICKWICK DAM

The search for the missing Obion County boaters continues this morning in Hardin County.

The recovery efforts are focused below Pickwick dam.

Search and recovery operations began at 8 a.m. this morning with 15 boats conducting surface and sonar scans on the Tennessee River. Two helicopters and one airplane are assisting with aerial scans along the river and surrounding land.

 

[mlhenn]

Tennessee River Valley News

few photos

 

[moonriverfarm]

Officials identify 2 men killed after going over Pickwick Dam - WBBJ TV
It has happened before.

 

[zecats]

IMO, I feel that’s prob what happened. They were too close to the dam by the time they knew they weren’t getting that boat started again. If they jumped, they’d get caught in the current & be swept into the dam anyway. Again, MOO

Agreed. They were in trouble whether they remained in the boat or jumped out. The damage the boat sustained going through the spillway is evidence enough of what could happen. The worst part must have been the lack of control due to no functioning motor on the boat and drifting toward the dam.

I wonder if they have or if they are able to search immediately at the base of the dam. It reminds me of a case here of a little boy in Australia where it was thought he was taken by crocodiles. His little body was actually found near a dam, where it became trapped after he drowned. JMO

 

[GraceG]

Updated this morning. TWR found camera with boat captured video.

UPDATE: TWRA says video captured missing Tennessee boaters at Pickwick Dam lock

I'm not a boat person. The news article says the "main boat motor was broken" but they launched with the "trailer motor" What is that? I can't imagine launching in high water near a dam without the main motor working but maybe a "trailer motor" is sufficient. Is that just bad reporting or is there such a thing?

 

[GraceG]

Chaperone has been identified. Chaperone identified in search and recovery of missing boaters on Pickwick Lake

 

[crhedBngr]

Awful.

Prayers for all Family and Friends.