3 weeks ago
Virginia teens rescue capsized kayakers during high school golf tryouts
Three teenagers in Virginia were trying out for their high school golf team when something amazing happened.
They heard screaming for help coming from a nearby lake.
A family in kayaks had tipped over into the deep water.
One grown-up was holding a little three-year-old boy up so he wouldn't go under.
The teens didn't hesitate — they ran to the lake, jumped in, and swam out to help.
They brought the two grown-ups and the little boy safely back to shore, then even went back for the kayaks.
A teammate called 911 while they were rescuing the family.
Everyone was wearing life jackets and no one was hurt.
The police chief called the teens heroes and said their brave, quick thinking saved three lives.
All three still made the golf team, and one rescued man told a teen, 'You saved my life.'
Three Eastern View High School students — Andrew Tuggle, 15, Gavin Cain, 17, and Jackson Castro, 17 — rescued two adults and a three-year-old child after their kayaks capsized in Lake Culpeper on July 27.
The teens were at the Culpeper Country Club for golf team tryouts when they heard screams from the lake near the course's second hole.
While teammates called 911 and alerted coaching staff, the trio ran to the water, jumped in, and swam out to bring the family safely to shore, then went back for the kayaks.
All three kayakers were wearing life jackets and were uninjured; police used drone footage and Axon Translation Services to confirm no one remained in the water.
Culpeper Police Chief Chris Settle praised the teens as heroes, saying their courage and quick thinking saved three lives, and all three later earned spots on the golf team.
- Who
- Three Eastern View High School students — Andrew Tuggle, 15, Gavin Cain, 17, and Jackson Castro, 17 — and the kayaking family they rescued (two adults and a three-year-old child).
- What
- The teens dove into Lake Culpeper to rescue two adults and a child whose kayaks capsized, bringing them all safely to shore.
- Where
- Lake Culpeper, adjacent to the Culpeper Country Club golf course in Virginia.
- When
- July 27, 2026, at approximately 3:35 PM.
- Why
- The family's kayaks capsized and they were struggling in deep water, including a small child who could not swim; the teens acted immediately after hearing screams.
Key facts
- Rescuers
- Andrew Tuggle (15), Gavin Cain (17), Jackson Castro (17)
- Location
- Lake Culpeper, Virginia
- Date and time
- July 27, 2026, approximately 3:35 PM
- Rescued
- Two adults and a three-year-old child
- Setting
- Eastern View High School golf team tryouts at Culpeper Country Club
- Response
- Culpeper Police Department and Culpeper County emergency services dispatched; teammates called 911
- Outcome
- All kayakers uninjured; the teens later earned spots on the golf team
- Verification
- Drone footage and Axon Translation Services used to confirm no one remained in the water
Quotes
Chief Chris Settle
Chief of the Culpeper Police Department
“"These three young men saw someone in danger and acted immediately, without hesitation, at potentially great personal risk to themselves. That kind of courage and quick thinking is what saved three lives on Monday. I hope their actions inspire all of us, and I'm incredibly proud to see this kind of leadership from young people in our community. We're grateful everyone was safe and unharmed."”
livemint.com
“"The guy actually came up to me and said, 'You saved my life.'"”
livemint.com
Sources
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