A tragic turn of events at Percy Priest Lake this past weekend resulted in the death of 34-year-old Harold L. Tomlinson, who drowned after saving his friend's child. According to WSMV, Tomlinson went into the water from a rented pontoon and managed to prevent a child from drifting too far, but sadly, he struggled to stay afloat himself.
First responders, comprising the Nashville Fire Department, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), and the Nashville Office of Emergency Management (OEM), conducted a search on Saturday night until conditions became too hazardous. Tomlinson's body was found near the Nashville Shores shoreline the following morning, as recalled by a local resident, Jason Doornewerd, who saw searchers on Saturday and felt a terrible feeling coming on knowing responders were looking for a person, as he told WSMV.
The combined efforts of the search teams resumed at dawn on Sunday wherein bystanders discovered Tomlinson’s body, with additional details including the unfortunate reality that he hadn't worn a personal flotation device at the time of the incident. Witnesses reported to the TWRA, which was provided by NewsChannel5, that Tomlinson called for the pontoon to move closer when he started to drift away due to windy conditions but ultimately lost sight of him.
Tomlinson's valorous act and the subsequent recovery of his body have shed light on the perils that can arise on the water, even during leisure activities. "I won’t be as quick to let them go out swimming in bad weather when it’s like this," Doornewerd said, remarking on the cautious approach he will now take with his children who enjoy swimming by the lake shore, in a statement obtained by WSMV. This incident marks the first boating-related fatality of the year at Percy Priest Lake and the third on Tennessee waterways in 2024. The incident remains under active investigation.
Although the heroic actions of Tomlinson saved a life, his untimely demise serves as a stark reminder of nature's unpredictability and the critical importance of safety precautions, particularly in aquatic environments. The community is mourning the loss, reflecting on the bravery and the ultimate sacrifice made by Tomlinson, as per information gathered from News 2. The search and recovery efforts showcased the diligent work by Nashville's emergency teams, though it ended in a somber resolution with the recovery of Tomlinson's body.
