A man drowned after his kayak capsized Sunday afternoon and he fell into the water at Harrison Bay State Park, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Christopher Goodine, 27, of Ooltewah, Tennessee, and his girlfriend were swimming and kayaking at a popular swimming area near the state park’s marina, state officials said.
Divers searched for the missing man for several hours, and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office used a remote operated vehicle to search, officials said. His body was recovered at about 6:15 p.m. in around 10 feet of water.
Witnesses told TWRA officers Goodine was about 20 yards from shore in 10 feet of water when he fell off the kayak and struggled.
A nearby park ranger and an off-duty Chattanooga police officer along with several others got in the water to help Goodine, but he went under the water and did not resurface, officials said. Goodine was not wearing a life jacket.