Two hikers drown in creek near Rainbow Lake Trail

First responders recover bodies of two hikers who drowned near Rainbow Lake Trail on April 28, 2024. Image courtesy of Amy Maxwell, Hamilton County Office Emergency Management.

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) – A family is mourning the loss of two hikers who drowned in the waters near Rainbow Lake Trail late Sunday night.

A 911 call was made just after 7 p.m. sharing that the two hikers were underwater in the area.

Signal Mountain first responders arrived on the scene and hiked a mile down the trail where they found a woman on land waiting for them.

She explained to officials that three to four people hiked on the Rainbow Lake Trail to the creek.

Signal Mountain Police and Fire Departments recover bodies of hikers who drowned near Rainbow Lake Trail. Two people were found dead after tragic accident. Images courtesy of Amy Maxwell, Hamilton County Office Emergency Management.

One woman attempted to cross the creek but fell into a hole that went underwater.

A male hiker then jumped in the creek to rescue her, when he also went under.

Emergency personnel jumped into the water to rescue both victims.

Both the man and woman were recovered, but were unfortunately pronounced dead.

Detective David Holloway of Signal Mountain Police Department reports the incident as, “A tragic accident. The family members were not from Hamilton County. They appear to be from Georgia.”

Our thoughts go out to the family of those involved and the service men and women who helped in the fatal accident.

First responders recover bodies of hikers who drowned near Rainbow Lake Trail. Image courtesy of Amy Maxwell, Hamilton County Office Emergency Management.

Responding agencies include: Signal Mountain Fire, Signal Mountain Police, Walden’s Ridge Emergency Services, Dallas Bay VFD, Stars Dive Teams.