A Lawrenceville man who was in Lake Lanier with a group of friends drowned Saturday afternoon.
Gwinnett County Fire Department crews were called to Lanier Park in Buford at 4:05 p.m., according to a press statement issued Saturday night.
The victim has been identified as 21-year-old Karon Antiwoin Jackson, according to Department of Natural Resources Public Affairs Officer Mark McKinnon.
Fire Department spokesman Justin Wilson said rescue personnel arrived at the park at 4:16 p.m. and talked to witnesses to pinpoint the location where the swimmer went under the water.
"Swift water rescue personnel responded to the boat ramp and launched a rescue boat to assist in locating the victim," Wilson stated. "Friends of the victim stated they had swum out to the boundary of the beach area at the park and were returning to shore when the victim went into distress and under the surface of the water."
Wilson said witnesses told them a number of bystanders tried to help the victim but could not find him
About an hour into the search, a dive member from the Hall County Fire Service’s Marine Unit located the victim in approximately 10 feet of water, according to Wilson.
Wilson said Lanier Park was open to the public but the beach and swim area had been closed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Wilson said the Gwinnett Fire Department received assistance in the recovery by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Park Rangers, Georgia Department of Natural Recourses State Rangers, Hall County Fire Rescue, Hall County Sheriff’s Office and Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.
