The bodies of a father and his teenage stepson were pulled from Lake Lanier late Saturday, Hall County police said.

Jose Alfredo Benitez, 40, was trying to rescue Carlos Amaya, 14, his stepson, when both went under at Mountain View Park off Browns Bridge Road, said Sgt. Stephen Wilbanks with the Hall County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators believe Amaya was attempting to swim across a cove when he became distressed, Wilbanks said. His stepfather attempted to come to his aid, but instead both went under shortly before 7 p.m.

Divers from Hall and Forsyth counties assisted with the recovery efforts Saturday evening. Both victims, residents of Lawrenceville, were located in less than two hours.

Neither victim was wearing a life preserver, Wilbanks told the AJC Sunday.