Final numbers have been released today by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), regarding the incidents, injuries and deaths along the state's ponds, lakes, rivers and beaches from the Labor Day weekend.
DNR Law Enforcement Public Affairs Officer Mark McKinnon's release shows that last Saturday's drowning on Lake Lanier was the only fatality along the waterways between Saturday, August 31 and Labor Day night, Monday September 2.
Hall and Forsyth County officials recovered the body of missing boater Hasani Kamau Widemond of Vinings on Saturday afternoon, August 31st, afte responded to Bethel Park on Lake Lanier. Officials say Widemond was swimming from shore back to his boat when he went under and did not resurface. Soon after rescue crews arrived, DNR game wardens were able to locate the subject in approximately 25 feet of water using boat mounted sonar.
McKinnon says in all, there were 20 Boating Under the Influence (BUI) charges raised against boaters and jet ski operators across Georgia, including five from Lake Lanier, four from Lake Oconee, and one from Lake Hartwell.
Three boating incidents occurred in the state, including two on Lake Allatoona in Acworth, and one at West Point Lake in Troup County, resulting in two total injuries.
