New Details On Pigeon River Drowning

Cocke County officials have released more information about the drowning of a man in the Pigeon River on Thursday, July 21. The man who drowned was from North Carolina and was vacationing in the area with his family. The family had gathered in the area of Pigeon River known as “Pebble Beach”. The victim and his adult daughter were floating on tubes when they fell into the water. The daughter was rescued by a passing boat, but the victim could not be reached.

Rescue operations were launched by the Cocke County Emergency Management Agency. They toned out the Swift Water Rescue Team who responded along with the Grassy Fork and Cosby Volunteer Fire Departments. Rescuers began searching both sides of the Pigeon River looking for the man. A call came in shortly thereafter that a manager with a rafting company had found the man’s body nearly a mile downriver. According to Cocke County EMA Director Joe Esway, since the victim is from out of state his name has not been released.