Man Rescued After Kayak Capsizes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A man had to be rescued on Wednesday when his kayak capsized on Old Hickory Lake.

Video: Man Describes Capsizing His Kayak Near Dam

Hendersonville resident David Blood overturned near the Old Hickory Dam, which meant that while his kayak was upside down, he also had to battle the current of the water as the dam churned.

"It just caught under and started tipping and I tried to keep balancing it out, and it just went too far and turned right over. And something like that, there’s no way to climb back into the thing," he said.

Luckily, Blood said, his cell phone was floating nearby in a waterproof pouch, so he called 911.

"Fortunately, I was able to get the phone out. And, it had gotten wet, but it worked long enough to call 911," he said.

Blood, 63, was rescued by Hendersonville firemen riding Jet Skis to get to him, because the Jet Skis are faster than a boat.

"His body core temperature had dropped so low that he was in danger of probably suffering from some type of heart attack or heart failure because of the cold weather. He was really on the borderline of that," said Hendersonville Fire Department Capt. Bob Galoppi.

Galoppi said it would be a while before the department could get Blood’s kayak because of the rough water.