La VERGNE, TN (WGNS) - A Sunday afternoon (4/5/2026) on the water took a frightening turn when an 18‑foot fishing boat capsized on Percy Priest Lake, sending four people into the lake and prompting a rapid response from La Vergne Fire Rescue. The call came in around 2:00 p.m., placed by one of the individuals struggling in the water.

Battalion Chief Patrick Hood said dispatchers were able to pinpoint the group’s exact location, which made all the difference. With that information in hand, firefighters launched an inflatable Zodiac watercraft and were on scene within minutes.

By the time crews arrived, the boat was fully overturned, its outboard motor pointing toward the sky. Two firefighters maneuvered the Zodiac to the group and brought all four safely back to shore roughly 20 minutes after the initial 911 call.

Despite the scare, no one was injured. What did concern officials, though, was that none of the individuals had been wearing life jackets.

Chief Hood emphasized that every person on a boat should have access to a Coast Guard‑approved life jacket, and that children 12 and under are required to wear them at all times while on board. He didn’t mince words about how close this incident came to a different outcome.

“This situation could have had a very different outcome,” he said. “Wearing a life jacket significantly increases your chances of survival in the water, especially in unexpected emergencies like a capsized boat.”

Fire officials hope the rescue serves as a reminder heading into warmer weather: even a calm afternoon on the lake can turn dangerous in seconds, and the simplest safety step—putting on a life jacket—can be the one that saves a life.