MARYVILLE, Tenn.—A TWRA Wildlife Officer rescued two anglers whose boat became trapped against a low-head dam on Little River in Blount County yesterday afternoon.

On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at around 3 p.m., TWRA Wildlife Officer Curt Henderson received the report of a vessel in distress on Little River at Rockford Dam in Blount County. Upon arrival, he observed a small aluminum jon boat with two men onboard that was trapped in the dam’s recirculating current.  The men were pushing the boat off the dam with a paddle and a broken fishing rod while being slammed against the dam as the jon boat filled with water. Officer Henderson asked TWRA dispatch to contact Blount County for assistance and after doing so, multiple TWRA officers started toward this rescue. While on patrol of Ft. Loudoun Lake, Wildlife Officer Mike Raleigh notified Officer Henderson that he was near the area and would head towards the scene. 

Officer Henderson attempted to make contact with the stranded men but realized they could not hear him due to the rushing water.  He could see that they were becoming more visibly tired as water continued filling their boat.  At this point, Blount County emergency personnel arrived and began making plans for removing the two men from the dam’s deadly currents. While this discussion took place, Officer Raleigh arrived in a center console TWRA patrol vessel.

Without hesitation and disregard of any fear, Officer Raleigh operated his vessel into the recirculating currents and contacted the stranded anglers giving them direction to tie their boat to his patrol boat.  He then backed away from the low-head dam and pulled both men to safety.  Officer Henderson says, “In the briefest moment, Officer Raleigh evaluated the situation, made quick decisions, and performed heroic actions to save the lives of two men. He is a true hero.”