Published: June 1, 2020

A FAMILY OUTING ON THE DUCK RIVER IN BEDFORD COUNTY TURNED TO TRAGEDY SUNDAY AFTERNOON WHEN A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL DROWNED WHILE KAYAKING WITH HER PARENTS. ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE, A MANCHESTER COUPLE AND THEIR DAUGHTER WERE KAYAKING A SECTION OF THE RIVER BELOW NORMANDY DAM SUNDAY MORNING. AT COURTNER’S MILL, AN OLD LOW HEAD DAM, THE THREE KAYAKERS ATTEMPTED TO NAVIGATE AN AREA, WHERE THE RIVER HAS CUT A CHANNEL AROUND THE DAM. THE 15-YEAR-OLD, WHO WAS WEARING A LIFEJACKET, CAPSIZED AND WAS SWEPT INTO A DOWNED TREE WHERE SHE WAS PINNED UNDERWATER. THE COUPLE ATTEMPTED TO FREE THEIR DAUGHTER, BUT SWIFT CURRENTS PREVENTED ANY RESCUE. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AROUND 2 P.M. AND THE BEDFORD COUNTY TECH TEAM, BEDFORD COUNTY EMS, BEDFORD COUNTY FIRE, NORMANDY FIRE, BEDFORD COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT AND TENNESSEE WILDLIFE RESOURCES AGENCY RESPONDED TO THE SCENE.