Multiple emergency teams responded Saturday afternoon, June 27, to the Big Bottom area after two individuals were reported lost in the woods.

Search teams from the Sparta-White County Rescue Squad, Doyle Volunteer Fire Department, Hickory Valley Volunteer Fire Department, and Tennessee State Parks Rangers quickly located the pair. The individuals reported their side-by-side vehicle had become partially submerged and stuck in the river.

Responders worked together to safely extract the vehicle from the water and secure it for later retrieval by the owners. All individuals were brought out safely.

The rescue occurred while a Flood Watch was in effect for the region, highlighting the hazards of outdoor activities in remote areas during adverse weather. It marks the third wilderness rescue in White County over the past three weeks.