Quentin Aaron Muse came from humble beginnings. But he wasn’t going to let it stop him.
He worked hard doing dirty work. The septic business was far from glamorous, but he arrived on time and smiling, a co-worker said Tuesday.
“He was really on his way,” Jimmy Nall said. “He had a lot of potential to be a really useful engine.”
But late Monday, Muse was swimming with friends in Lake Lanier when he yelled for help, struggling to stay afloat.
A friend tried to pull him up, but still Muse went under water, where he remained at least 40 minutes Monday night, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office said. Divers pulled him out of the water and began life-saving measures, but Muse, of Braselton, was pronounced dead when he arrived at Northside Hospital-Forsyth, Deputy Epi Rodriguez said Tuesday.
Muse’s friend, whose name was not released, was treated at the scene for water inhalation, but did not require hospitalization, Rodriguez said.
A group of friends was swimming at Shady Grove Campground when Muse began struggling in the water, unable to make it back to the shoreline, according to police. Emergency crews were called to the area around 8:15 p.m. Monday.
Forsyth County marine units and dive team arrived at the scene to search for Muse. Within 15 minutes of entering the water, the dive team located Muse and began CPR, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Muse was not wearing a life jacket. Foul play is not suspected, investigators said.
Nall, who works as a contractor, hired Muse to do a job many would refuse. But Muse worked hard, even asking for more work.
“He wanted it more than anyone else,” Nall said. “He was excited to have an opportunity to make a living.”
In his spare time, Muse picked up a guitar and taught himself to play. He spent hours playing and had taught himself more than a dozen songs, Nall said. Music was a passion for Muse, and with his determination and gratitude, the future was bright despite a humble beginning.
“It breaks my heart,” Nall said. “A guy like that, handsome, healthy and athletic with nothing but hope.”
Muse is the first person to drown this year at Lake Lanier, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. In March, a woman was killed in a boating wreck on the lake.
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