Cause Of Death Released For Swimmer Pulled From Allatoona Lake

CARTERSVILLE, GA -- The Bartow County corner has released the cause of death for the 22-year-old man whose body was recovered Monday from Allatoona Lake at Red Top Mountain State Park.

Gerardo Soto, Jr. of Chicago died from drowning in the lake, Coroner Joel Guyton said. Soto was reported missing early Sunday afternoon while swimming in the beach area at the state park.

Emergency crews with the Bartow County Fire Department, EMS and Georgia Department of Natural Resources began recovery efforts around 2 p.m. Aug. 20, but cut the search short when the sun set (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

They resumed the search around 7:30 a.m. Monday and Soto's body was found just before noon Aug. 21, said Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division spokesperson Mark McKinnon.

McKinnon said the swimmer was "identified by (a) remote operated underwater vehicle and recovered soon afterward."

A GoFundMe account has been created to help Soto's family pay for his funeral expenses.

"We cannot express how deeply he was loved by us and everyone around him," organizer Mercy Valladares said, adding there is no "proper way" to describe the devastation felt by family and friends. "We are truly and deeply saddened by his loss. We all are hurting and handling things the best way we can. Some go to Facebook to pay their respects in pictures and kind words. Some sit quietly trying to process their loss. We all are grieving his loss."

You can click here to donate to Soto's funeral expenses.

Image via GoFundMe