A family of six, including three children, was rescued on Sunday after their kayaking excursion on the Pigeon River in Cocke County encountered a treacherous twist. As reported by WBIR, the group's watercraft collided with a tree, which led to their unexpected immersion in the river waters. The Cocke County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) indicated that although the group reached the safety of dry land, they found themselves stranded on the wrong side of the roadway.
Efforts to assist the family quickly materialized as Deputy Randy Forbes quickly put together a team to rescue them. According to the EMA, a rope was installed across the river to effectively help the stricken kayakers back to safety. One poignant detail emerged when a child, soon to be escorted across the river, expressed a need: "I think I would do better if I had gloves on." Lt. Danny Ray Reece opted to hand his own gloves over to the child. This humane gesture was captured by WATE.
The rescue operation was bolstered by other team members, including firefighter Patrick McLaughlin and Sergeant Josh Smith. Praise was also given to the first-responder from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, who was recognized for contributing "considerably" to the operation, an acknowledgement made in a statement shared by the Cocke County EMA on Facebook. All six individuals were reported to have been wearing life jackets and were rescued without injury.
The rescue was not a solitary act but part of a coordinated response by the Cocke County Swift Water Rescue Team. According to WVLT, this team was immediately deployed upon receiving news that six individuals had been helplessly stranded on the Pigeon River's bank.
