Georgia man drowns after jumping in river to retrieve boat part, TN officials say
A Georgia man jumped from his boat and drowned while trying to fetch an item from the Tennessee River, state officials said.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency was called at about 1:15 p.m. Saturday, July 26, to the Chickamauga Reservoir, the agency said in a news release.
Officers learned the boater was trying to retrieve part of the boat’s swim platform that came loose on the water when he went under. He wasn’t wearing a life vest and never resurfaced, the TWRA said.
Authorities identified him as Randall Bradley, 51, of Rock Spring, Georgia.
Bradley, a Louisiana native and Army veteran, had lived in the Chattanooga area for 20 years, according to an online obituary. His death marked the 16th boating fatality in Tennessee this year, officials said.
“Randy enjoyed woodworking, a lazor specialist, a professional BBQ competitor and spending time with his family,” his obituary read.
After more than seven hours of searching, crews recovered Bradley’s body in 15 to 18 feet of water using sonar and a “remote operated vehicle,” the TWRA said.
Officials said the investigation is ongoing.
Rock Spring, Georgia, is about a 20-mile drive southeast from Chattanooga.
This story was originally published July 28, 2025 at 1:18 PM.