The search for a 55-year-old Cumberland County man who disappeared while wading in Daddy's Creek has been put on hold due to perilous water conditions, Morgan County Emergency Management Agency Director Ethan Webb confirmed. The man was last seen on Monday near the Obed Wild and Scenic River, and despite the efforts of numerous agencies, the undertaking was paused to prioritize the safety of the rescue teams.
According to WVLT the decision was made when swirling waters proved too dangerous for divers and rescuers, who had been utilizing an array of searching methods including drones, helicopters, and boats. Webb noted, “We train for things like this with swift water but at a certain point, there’s only so much you can do with the water.”
WATE reports that the multiagency operation involved the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Morgan County Sheriff's Office, Morgan County Rescue Squad, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Cumberland County Rescue Squad, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Webb estimated that the search, which was suspended Tuesday night, may resume by the weekend when the waters are expected to have receded.
The disappearance has cast a somber shadow over the community as the family of the missing man is coming to terms with the heart-wrenching wait. Webb told 1025 WOW Country, “Obviously they’re heartbroken, they’re concerned, and they just want him home.” To assist the ongoing investigation, the authorities are urging anyone with information to contact them as they search about a 15-mile stretch of the river where the man was last spotted.
The National Park Service, which oversees the Obed Wild and Scenic River area, initiated the search after receiving the report of the missing man. Search teams have been combing the region both by land and by the water since Monday, with the area near Devil’s Breakfast Table bridge being the focal point. As families gathered to enjoy the Memorial Day festivities, an undercurrent of concern pulsed through the community, with the hope that the man would be returned safely to his loved ones.
