A deer hunter was seriously injured early Saturday morning when a boat ran aground on Melton Hill Lake near the Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area, state officials said.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officers said three deer hunters who had been drawn to hunt the Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area launched an aluminum boat at Solway Boat Ramp and headed toward the management area in dense fog.
Around 6:30 a.m. Saturday, Christopher Beckler, 47, of Cleveland, Tennessee, was ejected when the boat ran aground near the Freels Bend area, the TWRA said. Beckler had been near the front of the boat using a spotlight to assist his son Dawson Beckler, 21, who was operating the vessel under dark and foggy conditions.
Christopher Beckler was thrown into the water near the shoreline, knocked unconscious and rescued by his son and a third occupant, Glenn Swafford, 52, also of Cleveland, the TWRA said.
Beckler was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with head and facial injuries, but he is expected to recover, the TWRA said.
The incident remains under investigation by TWRA.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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