Body of missing boater found, identity released

LAWRENCEVILLE - The Georgia Department of Natural Resources said it has recovered the body of a man who fell into the Chattahoochee River when his fishing boat capsized.

Gwinnett County authorities began looking for the man, identified by DNR officials as 64-year-old Ira Braitsch, after the accident Sunday morning. A second man in the same boat, 67-year-old Michael Boyle, was rescued from the river by another boater.

Officials said Boyle was showing signs of hypothermia and was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta where he remains hospitalized.

Gwinnett County Fire Capt. Thomas Rutledge said rescuers searched for Braitsch until about 6 p.m. Sunday when the search was called off for the night. He said their aluminum boat was recovered.

Authorities said Braitsch's body was found just south of Suwanee Creek shortly before noon Monday.