Man Drowns At Lanier Park While Swimming In Closed Area

BUFORD, GA — A man drowned Saturday after swimming with friends in a closed area at Lanier Park, according to the Gwinnett County Fire Department. The victim's name has not been released.

Firefighters responded at 4:05 p.m. to a bystander report of a drowning victim at Lanier Park, run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in Buford. A caller to 911 said a swimmer went under the water five minutes ago.

Crews arrived on scene at Lanier Park and gathered information on the location where the man went under the water. Swift water rescue personnel responded to the boat ramp and launched a rescue boat to assist in locating the victim. Friends of the victim said 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. Multiple bystanders attempted to assist the man without success. The search for the victim under water was approaching one hour when a dive member from the Hall County Fire Service’s Marine Unit located the victim in approximately ten feet of water. The victim was removed from the water and transferred to the Medical Examiner on scene.

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 agencies high water plan.

Gwinnett Fire was assisted by the following agencies: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Park Rangers, Georgia Department of Natural Recourses State Rangers, Hall County Fire Rescue, Hall County Sheriff’s Office and Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

Equipment at the scene included: two engines, one truck, one medic unit, one swiftwater rescue unit, one battalion chief and one deputy chief.

Photo courtesy Gwinnett Fire Department