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Crews scale back search for swimmer who went missing in a Knoxville quarry
The Knoxville Fire Department has scaled back its search for the swimmer who went missing June 14 at Augusta Quarry in Fort Dickerson Park.
KFD transitioned the operation from a search to a recovery mission after five days. For over 80 hours, crews from KFD, the Knoxville Volunteer Rescue Squad, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Blount County Rescue Squad coordinated their efforts, KFD spokesman Mark Wilbanks said. Teams used advanced underwater remotely operated vehicles, boats, sonar technology and shoreline sweeps to find the missing person.
Knoxville police officers investigated the incident as well.
'We remain dedicated to doing everything we can to bring resolution to this situation,' Wilbanks said in a news release.
Team are working to determine their next steps.
The search began around 9 p.m. June 14, after the Knoxville Fire Department received reports of a swimmer who went underwater and did not resurface.
The quarry was closed at the time for major upgrades, and KFD reminded anyone tempted to swim that it is "illegal and dangerous." The quarry is scheduled to open with a new pier and bathrooms at the end of the month.
The Augusta Quarry is made up of two deep pits with a shallower saddle connecting them. It is especially deep, making it challenging for even expert divers to search.
To reach the bottom of Augusta Quarry, a diver needs technical training with a breathing gas called trimix, a mixture of oxygen, helium and nitrogen.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Crews scale back search for swimmer who disappeared in Knoxville quarry
