McMinn Sheriff attacks the safety of swimming hole where another man drowned on Sunday

June 27, 2016

Collins Parker,

MCMINN COUNTY, Tennessee (WDEF) Another victim has drowned at the Blue Cove Hideaway in McMinn County.

According to the McMinn County Sheriff’s office, 25-year-old man James Semster from Atlanta jumped from a homemade wooden platform on a 30-foot bluff.

Witnesses called 911 when he went underwater and didn’t come back up.

And his body was discovered hours later by rescue members.

This is the second drowning in Blue Cove in the past year, and authorities have deemed it unsafe.

McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy says Blue Cove Hideaway is unsafe and poorly operated.

The Sheriff says it is operated by Charlie Womac of Riceville as a pay-to-enter swimming hole and camping spot.

“It is a dangerous place,” says Sheriff Guy. “We’ve spoken with Mr Womac many times about the way he operates. It is filthy, and I see no regard for the safety of the people he allows to camp and swim here. This is the second death in a year, and I fear there will be more deaths, injuries, and other criminal activity.”

McLean Daugherty of Niota died after jumping from on of the bluffs around the quarry last summer.

“The entire place is trashy, nasty and just rigged together,” continued Sheriff Guy. “Mr Womac has made his own floating “party boats” out of scrap lumber, water slides out of old pieces of tin, and jump-off points from scrap metal and wood. He charges a fee, but has no lifeguards, safety equipment, or water treatment system. Nor does he do anything to prevent alcohol or drugs from being brought on the site. We have caught underage drinkers here in the past, and from other information we’ve received Mr Womac continues to allow drinking and drug use in the campsites and out on the water. When our officers drive in, the people simply toss their contraband into the water.”

from Sheriff Joe Guy

Sheriff Guy says Blue Cove is operating without a business license because Womac claims it is part of his farm.

The Sheriff says it does not fall under public swimming and water quality standards because it is considered a “natural” swimming area.

“It is very frustrating,” the Sheriff says. “But we have already contacted the District Attorney’s office to see if any criminal charges apply in this case. It won’t bring back the loss of the two young men here but it might prevent it from happening again.”

Sheriff Guy offered one last bit of advice to the public: “Stay away from this place. It’s dirty and it’s unsafe, and we are going to set up our enforcement around it.”