Update: No missing jet skier on Cherokee Lake, owners located

Rescue crews have called off the search for a missing jet skier near the German Creek Bridge on Cherokee Lake in Grainger County.

The owners of the jet ski were located safe and sound around 8:30 a.m.

They told police the watercraft was pulled onto their property last night with a full tank of gas.

Police believe someone may have attempted to steal the jet ski because it was found with an empty tank.

Most of the homes in the area do not have docks. Boats and watercrafts have to be pushed onto shore.

A TWRA officer said some boaters found the jet ski floating unattended early Sunday morning and searched the waters looking for a possible owner.

When their search turned up no one, they called 911 at some time between 2:30 and 3 a.m.

The Bean Station Rescue Squad started searching for a missing person and called for assistance from neighboring counties around 6 a.m.

The Grainger County Rescue Squad, Jefferson County Rescue Squad, Hawkins County Rescue Squad, Newport Rescue Squad, TWRA and the Bean Station Fire Department all assisted in the search.