Lake Lanier drowning victim was swimming in closed area, official says

Officials recovered a drowning victim Saturday from Lake Lanier.

Officials recovered a drowning victim Saturday from Lake Lanier.

A man whose body was pulled from Lake Lanier was swimming in an area that was closed when he went into distress, an official with the rescue effort said.

About 5:15 p.m. Saturday in Lanier Park, a Hall County dive-team member found the man’s body in about 10 feet of water, Justin Wilson of Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services said.

The victim was identified as 21-year-old Karon Antiwoin Jackson of Lawrenceville by state Department of Natural Resources spokesman Mark McKinnon.

According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lanier Park was open but the beach and swim area was closed to the public due to the agency’s high-water plan, Wilson said.

“There were signs posted in the area that stated the beach area was closed,” Wilson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sunday.

“Friends of the victim stated they had swum out to the boundary of the beach area at the park and were returning to shore when the victim went into distress and under the surface of the water,” Wilson said. “Multiple bystanders attempted to assist the victim without success.”

RELATED: 19-year-old's body pulled from Lake Lanier; victim ID'd

On Thursday, the lake was deemed safe while the Chattahoochee River was called dangerous, but after more rain and rising waters, the Corps began closing areas on Lanier by the weekend.

ALSO: What you need to know about swimming in Lake Lanier, Chattahoochee River and other open waters in Georgia

It was the second drowning at Lake Lanier in a week and the fourth this year. The body of a 19-year-old Gwinnett County man was pulled from the lake May 27.

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