A Nickajack Cave tour group got stranded while kayaking on Monday, March 25, 2024, in Tennessee. The group was impacted by harsh conditions and strong winds. Officers responded to call about the kayakers at around 8:30 p.m. and when they arrived, they reportedly found 33 kayakers, including both adults and children, stranded on a bank, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
"Harsh conditions and high winds quickly challenged the kayakers, and a few did enter the water. The entire group made it to shore near the cave and called for emergency assistance," the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency shared in a Facebook post.
Other agencies also responded and helped rescue the kayakers, including local fire departments and EMS. The tour group had been kayaking on Nickajack Lake near Chattanooga. WKRN reported that the area has been experiencing strong winds. On the morning of Tuesday, March 26, a wind advisory was called and gusts were estimated at somewhere between 20 and 40 miles per hour.
All of the kayakers were rescued and no one was hurt, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The incident can also teach other kayakers an important lesson, as the kayakers' safety was not the result of pure luck or coincidence.
All of the kayakers wore life jackets during their tour, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency reported.
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"This is a great example of the importance of life jackets. With water temperatures in the mid 50s and high wind speeds, life jackets were a key safety factor," TWRA Boating Officer David Holt said.
