Teen Drowns In Chattahoochee River

SUWANEE, GA — An 18 year old drowned Sunday evening while swimming with friends in the Chattahoochee River.

Fire and rescue teams were called at 7:57 p.m. to the river at Settles Bridge Park in Suwanee. The 911 caller said the young man was unaccounted for after jumping into the river from an old bridge structure. He was at the river with a group of friends at the time, Gwinnett County fire officials say.

According to the caller the man — who was not being identified by officials on Monday — resurfaced one time after going underwater and appeared to be in distress. He became combative when a friend and another swimmer tried to rescue him, according to fire officials.

The man was not wearing a life jacket.

Rescue boats from Gwinnett Fire & Emergency Services and John's Creek Fire responded to the scene to search the river. A Hall County dive team also was called, but were cancelled once the victim was located.

Members of the Gwinnett Fire Swift Water Rescue Team located the man at 8:52 p.m. on the bottom of the river in about 10 feet of water. He was discovered about 50 feet downriver from the bridge.

Paramedics administered life-support measures and he was transported to Northside Hospital Forsyth, in Cumming, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The fire department cited federal patient privacy laws in not releasing the 18 year old's name. They said the name would be released by Gwinnett Police when the time is appropriate.

According to officials, it is illegal to climb or jump from an old bridge structure. Life jackets also are required on the river at Settles Bridge, they said.

File photo via Gwinnett Fire & Emergency Services