Authorities investigating 2 drownings at Lake Lanier

Authorities are investigating the deaths of two men who drowned while swimming in Lake Lanier this weekend.

The first drowning occurred Friday afternoon at the Duckett Mill Campground and the second occurred Saturday at Lanier Park, Georgia Department of Natural Resources spokesman Mark McKinnon said.

Officials said a 59-year-old Clarke County man drowned about 5:30 p.m. Friday after jumping from a moving boat and never resurfacing. His body was pulled from the lake about 7 p.m.

He was identified Saturday afternoon as Bruce Lee Hild of Winterville. Though he drowned, Hild’s death has been classified as a boating fatality since he jumped from a moving vessel, McKinnon said.

The second drowning occurred about 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Game wardens responded to Lanier Park near Buford after a 45-year-old man disappeared while swimming at the beach, officials said. His body was eventually recovered by another swimmer.

Investigators are withholding the man’s name until his family has been notified.

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Channel 2's Tyisha Fernandes was in Woodstock, where residents she talked to said they plan to come out for the festivities tomorrow.

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