RedactedNarrative: On February the 12th of 2021 at approximately 1000, operator launched his Triton TR 17 bass boat from Blythe Ferry Boat Ramp to fish, leaving his cell phone at his vehicle on the charger on accident. While fishing around the area of Hiwassee Refuge (Hiwassee River/ Tennessee River intersection) Operator ran aground at approximately 1330 for the first time that day. 
  
  A white male in a new bass boat tried to help Operator become free from the ground but the ropes were too short to reach Operator's boat. That individual attempted to locate someone who could come help pull him off, but was unsuccessful. At that point, the individual called Tow Boat USA to come pull Operator off the ground and gave the Tow captain Operator's credit card number for payment. That individual then left. Approximately two hours after the individual called for Tow Boat USA's assistance the Tow boat arrived. 
  
  Tow boat USA pulled him to deeper water, disconnected Operator's boat from the tow boat, and left the area- driving by Blythe Ferry Boat ramp, with Operator following him. Operator then loaded his boat, left the ramp, and drove to the America's Best Value Inn hotel in Dayton, TN. 
  
  Operator left the hotel at approximately 2130 to go back to the Blythe Ferry Boat Ramp, and put back in the water in order to fish more, again leaving his cell phone in his vehicle. Once he launched his boat for the second time that day, he fished for a short period of time, and ran aground a couple more times. 
  
  Each time he was able to loosen the boat from the ground by entering the water without shoes and push off the ground, except for the last time. Operator was very unclear on the direction of travel and general whereabouts of the boat ramp and sandbars as this was his first time fishing Chickamauga Lake and didn't have GPS. He said he also couldn't see much due to it being dark. 
  
  When Operator was aground for the final time, he tried accelerating the vessel in reverse, and swamped the boat. After that, he attempted for a short time to push the boat off the ground from the water. He realized he had no choice but to sit in his boat and yell for help. Operator said he yelled for hours before rescuing parties showed up at approximately 0046 of the 13th to assist him to shore. One TWRA boat with officer and a Rhea County Deputy and one Sale Creek Volunteer Fire Department boat with two volunteers and myself made contact with Operator at his vessel below highway 60 bridge on the East side of the river. 
  
  Upon making contact, OFC. assisted Operator onto his TWRA boat, and we took him to shore where rescue squad and EMS were staged. The staging area was off 2250 Cooper Road near Burton road in Sale Creek, TN, which is where the 911 call came from. Once on shore, EMS checked Operator and decided he should go to the hospital due to hypothermic injuries resulting from cold water immersion and exposure. 
  
  Operator was transported and admitted to CHI Memorial Hospital in Hixson, TN. During the transport to the hospital, OFC. and I attempted to moor the vessel to the ground so it wouldn't become a navigational hazard to other vessels. We left the motor on the ground and placed the trolling motor into the ground as well in order to keep it in the same location. When I arrived back to my truck, I drove to CHI Memorial in order to interview Operator and received a signed statement (attached.) I gave Operator the TWRA Dispatch phone number in case he had any questions regarding the incident and explained that it was his responsibility once he recovered and left the hospital to retrieve the vessel from the lake. Operator couldn't remember any phone numbers of family members for himself or us to contact.
  