In the heat of summer in the South, there's nothing quite like a boat outing on a lake, complete with water skiing and swimming.
But the refreshing Georgia lakes can turn deadly in an instant when safety regulations aren't followed, officials said Monday as crews recovered the latest drowning victim at Lake Allatoona.
The body of 28-year-old James Marquez Prater was pulled from the water around 3:20 p.m.
Last year, 49 people drowned in Georgia lakes, the state Department of Natural Resources said. Seven of those drownings in 2011 took place in Lake Allatoona, which claimed its second victim in six days Saturday.
Prater, of Cedartown, was spending the afternoon on the lake, being pulled by a rental boat as he rode an inflatable inner tube, investigators said. Family members said Prater was a good swimmer, but he apparently was not able to save himself.
"He fell off that tube and did not have a life jacket on at that time," Sgt. Mike Barr with the DNR told the AJC.
A man driving the boat jumped in the water and attempted to rescue Prater, but that man had to be pulled to safety, the Bartow County Sheriff's Office said Saturday. Prater never resurfaced.
The incident happened in the area of the Old 41 Campground and the Navy Recreational Facility. Water depths in the area ranged from 20 to 50 feet, the DNR said.
Georgia law requires life preservers for those water skiing or on inner tubes, as well as for children under 10 on a moving boat. But life jackets are recommended for everyone, according to Melissa Cummings, spokeswoman for the DNR.
On Monday at Lake Allatoona, searchers used high-tech sonar equipment to help locate Prater, but efforts were slowed due to heavy rains, Barr said. "Once we obtain an image, then we send down an underwater camera," he said.
The use of the electronic equipment helps keep divers safe in the murky waters, Barr said. But rain makes the use of the electronics unsafe, he said.
Barr said an extensive area of the lake was searched because it was unknown exactly where Prater fell off the tube. The DNR worked with Bartow County emergency response teams to find the man's body.
Prater is the second drowning at Lake Allatoona in six days. The body of 34-year old Rigoberto Lara Hernandez was found floating in the lake May 27 in Cherokee County.
For boaters, knowing Georgia's laws and safety regulations is vital to safe fun, the DNR says. An online site, www.goboatgeorgia.com, is a good reference before taking to the water, Cummings said.
In addition to life jackets, the state DNR suggests tips to enjoy a safe outing at the lake:
-- Designate an operator. Do not drink and drive a boat.
-- Don't overload your boat with people or equipment.
-- Watch your speed.
-- Always use navigation lights at night. Check them before heading out.
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