Authorities have released the name of a man who tragically drowned over the weekend while swimming in the Tennessee River, specifically near McFarland Park. The Lauderdale County Coroner, Kim Jones, confirmed that the individual was identified as 43-year-old Joshua Lee Chaney, a resident of Florence.
Witnesses reported that Chaney was last seen on Saturday afternoon as he swam from the beach area toward a buoy. During his return swim, he appeared to struggle and subsequently went underwater, failing to resurface. This prompted a multi-agency search operation that commenced on Saturday evening and continued into early Sunday morning.
Emergency responders worked diligently, and by approximately 11:40 a.m. on Sunday, Chaney’s body was located about 200 yards from the spot where he was last seen. He was discovered in water that was estimated to be between 8 to 10 feet deep. The Colbert County Boat Team utilized underwater sonar imaging technology to locate him.
The search and recovery efforts involved a coordinated response from several agencies, including the Florence Police Department, Florence Fire and Rescue, the Colbert County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama Marine Police, and the Sheffield Police Department. The operation also incorporated the use of dive teams, drones, and various watercraft to assist in the search.