A Gainesville firefighter lost his life in an off-duty boating accident on Lake Tugalo in Rabun County Saturday evening.
According to a news release from the Gainesville Fire Department, Chandler Patterson, 27, died in the accident while spending time off with his family and friends.
Mark McKinnon with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said the operator of a bass boat was pulling Patterson and one other person on a tube. Patterson, who was not wearing a life jacket, fell off. The operator turned around to pick him up and "possibly ran over him" in the water.
The operator was arrested for BUI.
Patterson's body was found by game wardens and was recovered by the Oconee County, South Carolina dive team in 117 feet of water around 12:30 Sunday afternoon.
Patterson had been with the department since June of 2019, serving as a firefighter and an EMT.
“Chandler was a super friendly person with an incredible personality,” said Division Chief Keith Smith in the prepared statement. “He brought smiles to everyone around him with his laid back and caring demeanor. He will be missed dearly.”
Smith added that flags at each Gainesville fire station will be lowered to half-staff in memory of Patterson.
“We ask that you keep his family, and his fire family, in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” said Smith.
The Georgia DNR Critical Incident Reconstruction Team (CIRT) is investigating the incident.
