DNR says youth involved in near drowning was saved by boaters

GAINESVILLE - A 12-year-old boy who suffered a near drowning experience on Lake Lanier Saturday afternoon is fortunate to be alive, according to officials with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.<br /> <br /> Ranger Adam Loudermilk said by the time he arrived on the scene around 5:30 p.m. and found the boy already out of the water and on the shore of a small island near Ahaluna Drive in northwest Hall County. At the time, the boy was breathing, but unresponsive.<br /> <br /> Loudermilk said it appeared the boy had been swimming in the lake with his 6-year-old brother and the two had attempted to swim from the shore to the island. <br /> <br /> He estimated the boy was under water between three and five minutes before he was rescued by unidentified boaters in the area. Loudermilk said there were a number of witnesses at the scene when DNR arrived.<br /> <br /> Loudermilk said he visited the boy at Northeast Georgia Medical Center around 9 p.m. Saturday. He said the boy was weak, but was able to talk with him about the incident, even though he remembered very little of what happened.

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