TWRA: One dead after canoeing accident on Harrison Bay

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — One man is dead after a canoeing accident on Harrison Bay.

The TWRA has identified 25-year-old Joshua Murphy as the person who drowned early Tuesday morning in Harrison Bay.

They say Murphy was a Georgia resident.

Authorities said the incident started shortly after midnight on Tuesday.

The TWRA explained that three men went across Harrison Bay in a canoe, where at some point on their journey to Patton Island, their canoe overturned.

The other two men with Murphy swam to safety on the island, according to the TWRA.

They set a fire to keep warm and began calling out for help.

An angler who was nearby heard their call and proceeded to get help.

Numerous agencies, including the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), were involved in the search and rescue of Murphy. The HCSO says their Underwater Recovery Team, Marine Patrol Unit and Unmanned Aerial Systems Unit were part of the response.

Crews search for man who drowned on Harrison Bay / HCSO

They utilized infrared cameras to help locate Murphy, who they say was under seven feet of water.

The TWRA added that there were no life jackets onboard the canoe.

It is state law in Tennessee that every boat, including canoes, must have a life jacket for each occupant on board.

They say it is critical to have these devices on hand, even when they are not required.

“Even though it’s not required to have that life jacket on… If you’re 13 years old or older, you don’t have to have it on unless you’re under a dam or designated area… It’s still a good idea to have it on, because you never know what’s going to happen out there.”

The TWRA is still investigating this incident, and they say this is the 26th fatal boating accident on Tennessee waterways this year.