Divers late Monday morning recovered the body of a 60-year-old Decatur man who apparently drowned in Lake Lanier Sunday night.
Hall County sheriff’s spokeswoman Nicole Bailes said Earl Cosby was on a dock at Clarks Bridge Park just before 10 p.m. Sunday when his boat began to drift away.
“The victim dove into the water attempting to retrieve the boat, however was unsuccessful,” Bailes told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an email.
“The victim then attempted to swim back to the dock,” she said. “It is believed that the swimmer became fatigued and went under.”
Cosby never resurfaced, she said. A family member attempted to rescue Cosby but was unsuccessful, Bailes said.
She said Hall County fire personnel responded and began rescue efforts, but after about an hour, suspended the search until Monday.
Hall County dive team members, along with Georgia Department of Natural Resources rangers, resumed the search at 9 a.m., and Cosby’s body was found about 11:45 a.m. near the boat ramp, in about 5 and a half feet of water, according to Bailes.
Cosby is the 10th person to drown in Lake Lanier this year, according to DNR spokesman Mark McKinnon. There were six drownings in the lake last year, he said.
