Three Culpeper Teens Hailed Heroes After Lake Rescue
Three Eastern View High School golfers jumped into Lake Culpeper to rescue two adults and a child after kayaks capsized near a steep, boulder-strewn shoreline.
On July 27, 2026, at about 3:35 PM, Eastern View High School students Andrew Tuggle (15), Jackson Castro (17) and Gavin Cain (17) ran to Lake Culpeper and swam out to rescue two adults and a young child after their kayaks capsized near a steep, boulder-strewn shoreline between December Ct and the lake’s water intake. Teammates called 911 while the teens brought the family to shore and retrieved the kayaks; officers later used drone footage and Axon Translation Services to confirm no one remained in the water and that all kayakers—who were wearing life jackets—were uninjured. Culpeper police, the school division and the team coach praised the students’ quick action and courage.