Body of missing kayaker recovered from Percy Priest Lake
The 73-year-old man was kayaking with his wife when strong winds moved in during Thursday evening’s storm.
NEW: Beloved Hall-of-Fame marathoner found dead after disappearing during kayaking trip in TN
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The body of a missing kayaker who disappeared as storms moved into Nashville Thursday night was pulled from Percy Priest Lake Friday morning.
Nashville Fire crews responded to the Seven Point Campground area of the lake at around 8:30 p.m. after a kayaker reportedly went missing when the storm moved in, and his spouse reported not being able to contact him.
The kayaker’s spouse told Nashville Fire that when the strong winds moved through the area, he disappeared and asked for emergency crews to search the waters around the campground off Stewarts Ferry Pike.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) identified the man as 73-year-old Don Slusser, who was with his wife at the campground when they decided to go kayaking on Thursday. His wife reported that the two of them returned to the campground around 3:30 p.m., but Don decided to keep paddling, according to TWRA.
After Mr. Slusser did not return to the campground, his wife alerted emergency personnel.
Nashville Fire launched two boats, and the Nashville Office of Emergency Management (OEM) deployed a drone to the area Thursday night until search efforts were taken over by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
The operation turned into a recovery effort overnight, and Nashville Fire returned to the area Friday morning to resume efforts to find the missing kayaker after a body was reported in the water.
The TWRA confirmed that Slusser’s body was located roughly 30 yards from the shore of the Seven Point boat launch area. He reportedly was still wearing a life jacket when his body was pulled from the water.
The investigation into what happened remains ongoing.
Copyright 2025 WSMV. All rights reserved.
