Lake Nickajack in Tennessee.Photo:Getty
Getty
A group of 27 kayakers are safely back on dry land after high winds left them stranded inside a cave on a Tennessee lake.
The TWRA said the 27 kayakers — made up of both adults and children — had been part of a tour group on Nickajack Lake near Chattanooga and began having difficulty due to the high winds as they approached the cave, per WSMV.
27 kayakers rescued from Lake Nickajack in Tennessee.Haletown Volunteer Fire Department/Facebook
Haletown Volunteer Fire Department/Facebook
Officers from the TWRA, Haletown Volunteer Fire Department, Puckett EMS, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the scene, though the first responders also had some difficulty with the rescue, according to the outlets.
27 kayakers rescued from cave in Lake Nickajack, Tennessee.Haletown Volunteer Fire Department/Facebook
TWRA Boating Officer David Holt told the outlets that the kayakers’ decision to wear life jackets may have saved their lives.
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“This is a great example of the importance of life jackets,” Holt said, per WSMV. “With water temperatures in the mid to high 40s and high wind speeds, life jackets were a key safety factor.”
The TWRA did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on the incident.
Over the past few days, Tennessee weather reports have forecasted gusty winds. On Tuesday, a wind advisory was called for many parts of the state, with gusts estimated between 20 and 40 mph according to WKRN.
source: people.com
