News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Jackson County officials may have found a silver lining in Wednesday’s underwater cave rescue.
Emergency rescue personnel rescued British cave diver Josh Bratchley after he became lost in a cave near Flynns Creek Road.
County Mayor Randy Heady said the positive outcome and national attention may bring more people to the area.
“People are getting excited, [especially] when people from Great Britain take a vacation to visit your county,” Heady said. “I know that they’re visiting other counties, but they told me [Wednesday] that about 90 percent of their time was going to be spent in Jackson County because of the caving experience, rivers, streams, and natural beauty. That’s impressive. I think word’s getting out about us and what we have to offer for tourism.”
Heady said Jackson County offers a variety of opportunities for tourists looking to enjoy the area’s natural beauty.
“We have camping sites and we’re building more… and then we have the Roaring River where you have canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and a small park down there which is a good place to go relax and enjoy yourself,” Heady said. “We’re looking to build on those things. Plus we have Cummins Falls. As a matter of fact, I was at Cummins Falls myself just to go out, look at the natural beauty, and see the most beautiful waterfall I think there is.”
Bratchley is famously known as one of the divers who helped save a youth soccer team in Thailand last year.
Special cave diver Edd Sorenson was flown in to assist with rescuing Bratchley from the cave. Bratchley refused medical treatment after resurfacing and was in stable condition.
Heady commends the efforts of Sorenson and all emergency personnel who assisted in rescuing Bratchley.
