Man dies while trying to save child from drowning in river, officials say
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) - A man in Memphis died while trying to save a child from drowning in a river, according to officials.
According to Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Anthony Buckner, a group of 11 friends and family were gathered on Friday at a sandbar near the boat take-out point on Walnut Grove Road when a child entered the river and began to struggle.
Buckner says two adult brothers quickly went into the water; one successfully made it back to the beach with the child, while 31-year-old Thaddeus Smiley never resurfaced.
On Sunday, Smiley’s body was found half a mile down the Wolf River, where he had entered the water.
“Our hearts and our prayers certainly go out to Mr. Smiley, and his family, and his friends,” Buckner said.
Over 100 volunteers, as well as search and rescue employees from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, assisted in the effort since Smiley went missing on Friday.
Copyright 2025 WMC via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
