A busy weekend on Lake Lanier ends with a tragic drowning of an adult male. Around 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 14, a group swimming off a cove in the Longwood Park area called 9-1-1 that a man had gone underwater.
According to Sgt. Kevin Holbrook, the group was swimming from the shore. “They were along the shoreline in a cove area there. It is known to be used by individuals for swimming. It is not a regulated or a beach type area, but just off the shoreline.”
Holbrook added that, when the group realized the man had not surfaced, another individual unsuccessfully attempted to rescue him. The emergency dive team were later able to retrieve his body.
The victim has not yet been named out of respect to the family. “The family was there, and again this is still a very developing scene,” Holbrook commented. “It does make it more difficult when the family is there.”
An autopsy will be performed.
Sgt. Holbrook said that the lake is busier than usual now that Covid-19 restrictions are being lifted and used this as an opportunity to remind the public to use extreme caution when swimming and using the lake for recreation fun. “We hope anyone on the lake will adhere to safety precautions – use those life jackets, swim in groups and be mindful that the lake is up. Because it is up, so many times there are drop-offs. Sometimes it may appear shallow and then drop off to deep portions of the lake. Please be careful out there,” he added. “We want to have fun, but be safe doing so.”
More details on this incident are expected to be released.
