9-year-old dies after near-drowning in Lake Lanier

Six days after being pulled from Lake Lanier in serious condition, a 9-year-old Hoschton boy has died, authorities confirmed.

The child, identified by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources as Ethan Chen, died about 2 p.m. Wednesday at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Channel 2 Action News reported. His father, who was also pulled from the lake, remains at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in critical condition. The department identified him as Libao Chen, 30, also of Hoschton.

Last Thursday, the pair went underwater at the beach near Margaritaville at Lanier Island, Hall County fire spokesman Zach Brackett previously told AJC.com. The father went into the water after he noticed his son had not surfaced.

The father then slipped under the water, and he didn’t reemerge until lifeguards and bystanders on the beach found him and boy, Brackett said. Lifeguards attempted to resuscitate both of them until paramedics arrived.

In other news:

Police are asking for the public's help to identify her.

About the Author

Fire gutted a DeKalb art studio. Creatives are now picking up the pieces.

A Wednesday blaze at South River Art Studios ravaged one of three warehouses on the property where about 35 artists create and store all their supplies.

$980M Mega Millions winning ticket sold in Newnan

The player matched all six numbers during a Friday evening drawing and won a jackpot worth an estimated $980 million. It has an estimated cash value of $452.2 million.

Churches, King Center hold food drives as SNAP delays linger

As the nation begins to recover from the government shutdown, leaders and advocates in Georgia are trying to fill the gaps left by the pause in federal services.

The Latest

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Gridlock Guy: ATL DOT asks to please pardon its progress

1h ago

Fire gutted a DeKalb art studio. Creatives are now picking up the pieces.

Churches, King Center hold food drives as SNAP delays linger

Featured

Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images

Prosecutor takes helm of Georgia case against Trump. But will he move forward?

A veteran Georgia prosecutor will decide the fate of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' election interference case against Donald Trump and his allies.

With some solar power tax breaks expiring, Georgians rush to catch the sun

Georgia solar installers say they’re seeing a surge of customers trying to install rooftop solar systems before federal tax credits go away at the end of the year.

‘Automatic for the People’: Weaver D’s still bonds Athens as era nears end

After feeding everyone from R.E.M. to Brian Kemp, and coining a phrase that went global, Dexter Weaver is preparing to close his storied Athens soul food restaurant.