A Tullahoma, Tennessee, man lost his life on Tims Ford Lake after he fell from his paddle craft without a life jacket, according to state wildlife officials.
The deadly incident marks the second boating-related fatality on Tims Ford Lake this year.
The victim was identified as Blake Lewis, 24, who was on the lake with a friend in a paddle craft-style vessel, Tennessee Wildlife Resources officials said in a press release. Lewis fell overboard late Sunday afternoon while paddling and appeared to struggle to swim.
(READ MORE: Rock Spring woman whose husband drowned: Wear your life jacket)
The occupant of the other vessel with Lewis attempted to assist by throwing multiple personal flotation devices, the press release said, but Lewis was unable to reach them before disappearing beneath the surface.
Emergency services in Moore County were notified, and responding agencies came from Franklin County, Moore County and state wildlife offices, the press release said. First responders conducted search efforts using sonar and successfully recovered Lewis’ body around 7 p.m. CDT Sunday.
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The incident remains under investigation and marks the fourth boating-related fatality on Tennessee waters in 2026.
In March, widely known angler Nobuyuki Terajima, of Hermitage, Tennessee, drowned at the Devil’s Step boat ramp on Tims Ford Lake when his boat drifted away from the boat dock and he attempted to retrieve it.
Terajima was taking his boat out of the lake at the boat ramp and had tied it to the dock while he went to get his truck and trailer, Moore County Sheriff Tim Fuller said following the incident. Witnesses said Terajima was unable to reach the boat or return to shore, officials said. He went under and didn’t resurface.
Contact Southeast Tennessee reporter Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.