On November 14th, 2023, at approximately 0230 hours I, Wildlife Officer was contacted by Hamilton County 911 with the report of a missing boater on Chickamauga Lake. Dispatchers advised officers that a nearby fisherman in the Harrison Bay area heard people screaming for help coming from Patton Island outside of Harrison Bay State Park. 

The fisherman was unable to reach the island due to mechanical failures so contacted 911 instead. First responding fireman were able to locate two individuals on Patton Island that were near by a fire. They had stated to the fireman that they were on a canoe that had flipped over and that one of the other people on the boat was unable to make it to shore. 

The two men were taken to Harrison Bay State Park where an ambulance was waiting to treat them. Once the two rescued parties were inside the ambulance and were able to warm up Wildlife Officers were able to interview them on the incident. 

They had both advised officers that they had put in a canoe at the Park’s boat ramp and were going to paddle to Patton Island to camp for the night. As they began to approach the island, they stated that for an unknown reason the canoe capsized towards the left, ejecting all three passengers on board into the lake. 

There were no lifejackets on board the vessel so all three began to make the attempt to swim. While swimming, one of the three parties did not have the ability to swim so the other two were trying to help him stay up but were unable. 

That is when they stated to officers that one of them watched the third passenger submerge under the water and did not see him resurface. After making it to the island, they were able to make a fire and yell for help. After officers arrived on scene and began searching the underwater area utilizing a remote operated vessel the third party was located nearby where the capsized canoe remained. The deceased individuals body was recovered by law enforcement divers and transported to the Hamilton County Medical Examiners Officer for further evaluation.

CHICKAMAUGA RESERVOIR
HARRISON                      