Swift Water Rescue On Pigeon River Update

We know a little more information about that Swift Water Rescue that was conducted on the Pigeon River last week in Cocke County. This was on Hartford Road near the intersection with Lindsey Gap Road. The man rescued was 29 year old Andrew Michael Wadman of Florida who is working as a guide with a local rafting company in Hartford. Wadman told rescue workers that he had pulled down by the river to get some sunflowers and the waster wasn’t up very far. When he went to turn around his Chevrolet Suburban sank in the soft dirt and sand and got stuck. He tried wedging wood to get under a tire to get the Suburban unstuck but wasn’t successful, so he decided to just sleep in his Suburban overnight and try again in the morning or call someone for help. He did not realize that while he slept with his dog in the Suburban, the water level from the river rose and carried him out into the middle of the river, which is where rescue workers found the vehicle, with Wadman still asleep inside, The Swift Water Rescue team was able to get Wadman and his dog to safety and his vehicle was towed out of the river. He was checked by EMS but did not need treatment. Those responding with assistance included:

Newport Rescue Squad

Cocke County Fire Department

Cocke County Swift Water Rescue

Grassy Fork Volunteer Fire Department

Cosby Volunteer Fire Department

Priority Ambulance