JUST IN: Kickoff to summer turns tragic in Georgia lakes, pools

He posted a photo on Facebook of himself riding a personal watercraft. Reginald Whitehead couldn’t swim, but he was wearing a life jacket.

Less than two hours after he posted the photo, Whitehead’s watercraft flipped over, according to witnesses, as he was attempting to get out of Lake Lanier. The 30-year-old went under the water and never resurfaced. This time, he wasn’t wearing a life jacket.

The unofficial kickoff to summer — Memorial Day weekend — is routinely tragic in metro Atlanta, and this year was no exception. Lakes and pools are popular cool-off spots, but they claimed the lives of multiple drowning victims. Five people drowned in Georgia lakes over the long weekend, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and at least two others drowned in local pools. According to experts, every death could have been prevented.

Every year, about 4,000 people drown in the United States, and it’s the second-leading cause of death for children ages 1-14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only vehicle crashes kill more children, according to the CDC.

ALSO: Second man drowns in Lake Lanier within 24 hours

Drowning is generally quiet, and victims are rarely able to call for help, the CDC says. For two of the weekend’s youngest victims, no one noticed when they slipped underwater in separate incidents.

A 6-year-old northeast Georgia boy was believed to be the youngest victim from the weekend, according to police. Mark “TJ” Phonsavanh may have been underwater for as long as 10 minutes before he was pulled from a Mount Airy pool at a Habersham County home Sunday evening, police said. The Demorest boy was flown to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite, where he died Monday.

“Our heart goes out to this family,” Tim Jarrell, Mount Airy police chief, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution late Tuesday. “They were there celebrating someone’s graduation. It turned into a tragedy.”

Later Monday, a 19-year-old attending a pool party at a northwest Atlanta apartment complex drowned. But with so many attending the unauthorized party, witnesses believe Shomari Billings could have been underwater for 20 minutes. The incident happened at The 500 apartments on Northside Circle, according to Atlanta police spokeswoman Officer Stephanie Brown. Officers were sent to the pool after receiving complaints of a large party there.

In an emailed statement, the complex said it was cooperating with investigators. Alcohol, found at the party, is not allowed in the pool area.

“Any residents responsible for planning or promoting this event have violated the terms of their lease and will have their lease terminated,” the complex said.

A father-son fishing outing at West Point Lake in Troup County ended in tragedy early Monday when a Clayton County man attempted to save his father.

Jeremiah Israel, 33, and his father were fishing around 12:30 a.m. when the 64-year-old man fell into the water, according to investigators. Israel jumped in to save him, but drowned. Others boaters were able to pull the father from the water, and he was treated and released from a local hospital.

In addition to Whitehead, another man also died at Lake Lanier over the weekend. Friday night, a Gainesville man drowned near his boat dock, according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. A family member discovered the body of 61-year-old Michael Thompson in the water.

Though alcohol is often a factor in drownings involving adults, it was not believed to have contributed to any of the weekend deaths on Georgia lakes, according to the Department of Natural Resources. However, 29 people were cited for boating under the influence, or BUI, according to the DNR. Nine others were also injured in boating incidents.

Tuesday afternoon, a death possibly related to drowning was reported in Decatur after a man was seen in distress at Glenlake Pool, according to a city a spokeswoman.

About 1:15 p.m., a lifeguard pulled the man from the water and administered CPR until police and firefighters arrived, Renae Madison told AJC.com. The man, whose name was not immediately released, died at a local hospital.

And Wednesday afternoon, a search continued on the Chattahoochee River, off Akers Drive in Cobb County, for a possible drowning victim, police said.

PREVENTING DROWNING

Tips for staying safe when in the water:

1. Fence in all pools and spas.

2. Learn to swim or at least know survival skills, such as floating.

3. Provide constant attention to children.

4. Wear life jackets when on a boat. Children and inexperienced swimmers should also wear life jackets.

5. Swim in an area with a lifeguard when possible.

6. Know the signs of someone in trouble.

Source: American Red Cross