Teens drown in Lake Allatoona

Local News

Teens drown in Lake Allatoona

Two Cobb teens drowned in Lake Allatoona on "senior skip day."

A grief-stricken woman was identified as the aunt of one of two teenage boys who drowned Friday (May 9) in Lake Allatoona.

Fire and rescue personnel gathered near the site of the drowning. Divers recovered the bodies of the the teens, ages 15 and 18, from the Bartow County lake about 2:15 p.m. They had drowned while trying to swim across a 100-yard channel, about 25 yards from a rocky shoreline, said Bartow County Sheriff's Maj. Bryan Keeling.

Authorities declined to release the victims' names. A group of people mourning the deaths gathered at the park.

Lake Allatoona where two teens drowned today reflected in the sunglasses of James Hamilton, a regional manager with Georgia State Parks and Lodges. While swimming is allowed in almost all areas of Lake Allatoona, it is not recommended in the isolated cove where the boys were swimming, he said.

After the older teen began having trouble the younger boy swam to his aid. Then, both youths began having trouble, and two others went to help. A would-be rescuer "made it to one of the victims and did attempt to get him to shore, pulling him by his hair," Colon-Valez said.

A group of unidentified people go to their cars after learning of the deaths.

A group of unidentified people leave Red Top Mountain.

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A grief-stricken woman was identified as the aunt of one of two teenage boys who drowned Friday (May 9) in Lake Allatoona.

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