A search operation is underway for a man who went missing while trying to save a child struggling in the Wolf River near Walnut Grove Road on Friday afternoon. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reported that a group of 11 friends and family were gathered at a sandbar when the incident occurred. Two adult brothers entered the water to assist the child; one made it back to shore with the child, while the other, identified as 31-year-old Thaddeus Smiley, has not been seen since.
Rescue teams, including personnel from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Memphis Police Department, and Memphis Fire Department, have been searching the area using boats, sonar equipment, drones, and dive teams. The search resumed Saturday morning after concluding for the day on Friday. Officials noted that the river’s current was moving at approximately six miles per hour, complicating rescue efforts.
Deputy Chief Anthony Buckner emphasized the importance of water safety, urging parents to consider swimming lessons for their children and to use life jackets when engaging in water activities, especially in fast-moving rivers like the Wolf River.