NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The body of 34-year-old Harold Tomlinson was recovered at 8:00 a.m. near the dam from Percy Priest Lake, according to police. He drowned while trying to save a child.
Crews with the Nashville Fire Department responded to Percy Priest Lake after they received a report of a body floating in the water Sunday morning. Officials arrived on the scene in the 3800 block of Bell Road around 8:30 a.m.
The Medical Examiner worked alongside police for further identification and investigation into the incident.
Police say Tomlinson drowned at 5:30 p.m. Saturday night. He went into the water from a rented pontoon boat, trying to keep his friend's daughter from drifting away. He successfully saved her, but then he began to struggle.
Police later found him drowned Sunday morning. We do not yet know the name of the child who he saved.
This is a story I immediately went home and showed my boys - young athletes with big dreams. The Vanderbilt football team's success has stolen the spotlight - what I love about Steve Layman's story is he reveals the individual hardships it took to get there. As Clark Lea says, "we all have scuff marks." This team proves perseverance pays off!
- Carrie Sharp
