Baldwin man drowns in Banks County pond

BALDWIN - A Baldwin man who was a Clarkesville firefighter died in an accident on Memorial Day.<br /> <br /> Banks County Chief Deputy Shawn Wilson said members of the Banks County Sheriff's Office and Banks County Fire/EMS responded to reports of a swimmer in distress in a private pond at 5899 Old Highway 441 in Baldwin at 4:32 p.m.<br /> <br /> "Officers spoke to a witness and determined that an adult male was swimming with a friend when he appeared to be in distress and efforts to reach him failed," Wilson said in a statement.<br /> <br /> A search was conducted, and the victim was recovered with help from the Hall County Sheriff's Office Dive Team.<br /> <br /> The victim has been identified as 20-year-old Clayton Andrew Martin of Baldwin.<br /> <br /> Clarkesville Fire Chief Jerry Palmer said Martin has been a Clarkesville firefighter for a little more than a year, and was a member of the Toccoa Falls College men's basketball team.<br /> <br /> Martin is the stepson of Clarkesville Fire Capt. Johnny Irvin and son of Julie Tomlin, also of Baldwin, Palmer said.<br /> <br /> Funeral arrangements will be made later this week.<br /> <br /> "Words cannot adequately express our sadness at this loss," Palmer said.<br /> <br />

http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/5/275430