‘Lost’ man calls in safe after all-night search

CLEVELAND, Ga. — Emergency officials spent hours searching for a man who fell into the Chatahoochee River over the weekend, only to learn later that he got out on his own and was safe at a relative’s house.

Members of four different agencies spent all night Saturday searching for Robert Preston, 33, after he fell off a floatation tube and disappeared while out with a group of friends.

White County spokeswoman Ana Newberry said Preston called the county’s emergency 911 center around 7:30 Sunday morning to say he was at a relative’s house and was OK.

She said he managed to get out of the river and realized he was close to the relative’s house along Highway 225 and went there.

“He had scratches and you can tell he’s had a hell of a time last night in the dark with all this stuff,” she said, adding that she’d like to know what “didn’t possess him to call sooner.”

“It’s a guy thing, I guess,” Newberry said. “He’s all right and he refused medical attention. I think he’s maybe a little embarrassed.”

About 20 people took part in the search, which also included helicopters and boats. Preston was with a group of five or six people when he disappeared while tubing down the river. They searched for three hours and tried to find him themselves before calling officials.

Newberry said no charges were pending Sunday.