NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
Three generations of fishermen had to be rescued from the Cumberland River around 9 a.m. Thursday morning.
Carl Roberts Sr. was fishing on the river below the Old Hickory Dam with his son and grandson. The trio had been on the water since 5:30 a.m. when they, all of a sudden, noticed water around their feet.
All three of the men were wearing their life jackets and headed for shore as soon as they noticed the water.
Carl Roberts Jr. told Nashville's News 2 the water filled the boat so fast that by the time they made it to the seawall beside the dam the entire back of the boat was underwater.
"Five minutes probably, I'd say five minutes we went from being above the water to below the water," he said.
Roberts Sr. added, "Just as we pulled up to the rocks it went completely under."
The Nashville Fire Department, Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers assisted in the rescue.
The fishing trip was the birthday wish of Carl Robertson Sr., who turned 76 on Thursday.
It was also the first trip in the fishing boat which he bought last year for $800.
TWRA officers told Nashville's News 2 the boat began rapidly taking on water after a crack developed in the transom, the wide, flat area at the back of a boat were the motor is attached.
After the boat was removed from the water it was easy to see the wood in the transom had become soft due to rot and decay.
The water rescue is the second in Nashville in as many days.
Several people were rescued from a boat that was taking on water on Old Hickory Lake Wednesday evening.
No one was injured.
