The body of a man who witnesses say jumped into Lake Hartwell to retrieve a kayak just after 6 p.m. Saturday was recovered from the water Sunday afternoon.
“At approximately 1 p.m. today, Georgia DNR Game Wardens located the drowning victim, 47-year-old Jason Bass of Rising Star, Texas, with the Remote Operated Vehicle,” said Mark McKinnon, public affairs officer for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division. “The Oconee County, S.C., divers recovered his body a short time later.”
DNR Game Wardens responded to the reported drowning in the area of Gumlog Creek Saturday night, and a search utilizing side-scan sonar and the Hart County Dive Team began immediately upon arrival, McKinnon said.
“According to witnesses, Mr. Bass jumped into the water to retrieve a kayak, went under, and did not resurface,” McKinnon said.
