What This Story Is About
- Knox County Rescue responded to McBee Ferry Park on Friday afternoon for a missing kayaker.
Why It Matters
- Fast action by river rescue volunteers prevents paddling accidents from escalating into prolonged searches or tragedies, especially on busy weekend waterways.
- Knox County Rescue reminds all boaters and paddlers to always wear a properly fitted life jacket and carry communication devices when heading out on the water.
For Context
- The successful rescue comes amid heightened water safety awareness across the state, where the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has already recorded 16 boating- and paddling-related fatalities on state waterways in 2026.
STRAWBERRY PLAINS, Tenn. (WVLT) – A missing kayaker is safe and reunited with his friends thanks to the quick work of local volunteer rescue crews on Friday.
According to Knox County Rescue, crews were dispatched Friday afternoon to McBee Ferry Park along the Holston River following reports of a missing boater.
A friend of the kayaker had discovered the kayak floating empty in the water but could not find the paddler anywhere in the area.
Knox County Rescue teams immediately deployed to the river and initiated a water search. After a brief search of the waterway, rescue members safely located the missing kayaker…