The woman missing and presumed to have drowned in Lake Lanier is now identified.
Department of Natural Resources spokesman Mark McKinnon said Monday the woman believed to have drowned is Madeline Sinagra, 31, of Atlanta.
Sinagra went for swim in Lake Lanier and is missing and presumed drowned, according to Hall County authorities.
Sunday afternoon the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Hall County Fire Services, and the GA Department of Natural Resources were called to Lake Lanier in the area between Port Royale and Old Federal Park regarding the possible drowning.
Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Stephen Wilbanks said that upon arrival responders learned that a 31-year-old woman had jumped off of a sailboat to go for a swim and the boat drifted away from her.
Wilbanks said a man still aboard the boat reported that while Sinagra was attempting to swim back to the boat she became fatigued, and his efforts to throw a line to her were unsuccessful.
The man reported that he then went into the water in an attempt to rescue Sinagra, but was unable to locate her after she went under and did not resurface.
Hall County Fire Services personnel arrived on the scene and conducted a rescue dive search for approximately one hour without success before turning the recovery effort over to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.
"Due to inclement weather including lightning moving into the area, and equipment availability, the search effort has been suspended until (Monday) morning," Wilbanks said.
The search was suspended again Monday night, but will resume Tuesday.
