The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Tuesday, January 01, 2019 03:02 PM
Two Teens Drown In Cherokee Lake In Hamblen County
Sherrif Esco Jarnigan said the two 16 year olds were swimming with family and friends out in Evergreen Cove off Cherokee Drive when they went underwater and did not resurface. Rescue crews were called to the scene around 5:30 p.m.
"What it looks like to us is they were playing in the water and quite possibly might not be strong swimmers," Lt. David Cribley. "Because of that, they just got caught in the water and couldn't get back up."
Jarnigan said the girl's body was recovered earlier in the evening. He said no foul play is suspected. Cribley said boy's body wasn't found until about 9 p.m.
Cribley said the teenagers were dating.
