Barren Fork River rescue: Three survive swift currents

By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard (McMinnville, Tenn.)

Kyle Ward clings to a tree in the Barren Fork River while members of the Warren County Rescue Squad approach in a boat. Ward had been kayaking in the river when a fast-moving log smashed into his kayak and knocked him into the water.

Three men are lucky to be alive after launching their kayaks into the raging waters of the Barren Fork River on Saturday morning.

The river, up to dangerous levels due to 3.1 inches of rain Friday night, pounded the three as they tried unsuccessfully to stay afloat in tiny, one-man kayaks.

Bryant Campbell, 29, and Braxton Hunter, 23, managed to swim ashore, while Kyle Ward, 24, was saved by members of the Warren County Rescue Squad. Ward found safety among a patch of trees in the middle of the river which also provided a barrier from the swift current.

“That’s the closest I’ve ever come to dying,” said Ward, still shivering from the chilling water. “We had planned to paddle down to the VFW but it didn’t work out that way.”

The three put their kayaks in the water at Pepper Branch Park, which is located below the Frank G. Clement Bridge. They didn’t make it far before the water overturned the kayaks of Campbell and Hunter. They were trapped in their kayaks under the water, which is one of the sports main dangers.

“It was pretty scary seeing them underwater for so long,” said Ward, who estimates his friends were trapped beneath the water for around 30 seconds. “I was going back to try to help, to see what I could do, and that’s when I got hit by a log.”

The log smashed Ward’s kayak and the river current rushed him downstream. He managed to grab a tree and wisely opted not to venture back into the swift current which separated him from shore.

“He couldn’t have swum out of there,” said rescue squad member Lanny Wanamaker, who was aboard the boat which rescued Ward. “It was a pretty stiff current. And he was shivering cold. He was shaking so much it shook the whole boat when we got him in there.”

Hunter, who is the pastor at Cornerstone Baptist Church, was at least able to put a humorous spin on the incident after he was safely ashore.

“Tell everyone there will be a news conference Sunday morning at 10:45 at Cornerstone Baptist Church,” said Hunter.