Tennessee

[TnOutdoorsmen]

Fisherman Drowns in Caney Fork River
Story by Mary Jo Denton
Herald-Citizen Staff
Monday, Oct 13, 2008
PUTNAM COUNTY -- An Antioch man drowned while fishing in the Caney Fork River near the Happy Hollow boat ramp Sunday morning, officials said.

Roman S. Grzybowski 51, of Brentridge Circle, Antioch, apparently stepped into a deep hole while wearing waders and wading in the river to fish, according to Putnam Sheriff's deputies and Putnam Emergency Management Agency officials.

Two brothers who were also fishing nearby made a valiant effort to save him, but were unsuccessful, says a report by Deputy Ron Harris.

It happened just before 8 a.m. Oct. 12.

The two brothers, who did not know Grzybowski, were fishing in the same area when they saw him fall, an accident later described by investigators as the result of the victim stepping into a hole underneath the water.

The waders he was wearing quickly filled with water, hampering his efforts to make it back to the water's surface, investigators said.

Nathan John Wilson, 28, and his brother, Nicholas R.T. Wilson, 30, both of Smyrna told deputies they were fishing when they noticed a man who was fishing downstream from them fall.

"We ran to his location and took off our waders and swam to him in the water," Nicholas Wilson later told Deputy Harris.

"By the time we got to him, he had stopped moving. We pulled him out of the water and began CPR. I ran back upstream to Happy Hollow ramp and called for someone to dial 911. I ran back to my brother and helped with CPR.

"After about 15 to 20 minutes of CPR, we decided to stop. Ten minutes after we stopped, paramedics arrived and called the ER and they decided there was nothing else that could be done."

Grzybowski was taken to Cookeville Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His family was notified, and his daughter came to Putnam County, according to Deputy Harris. She told the deputy that her father did not know how to swim.

Besides Deputy Harris, others who worked the incident included Smith County Rescue Squad members, Putnam Rescue Squad member David Anderson, paramedics Eddie Haynes and Patrick Matthews, and Deputy Sgt. Rick Smith.
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TnOutdoorsmen