News Details
DROWNING INCIDENT AT BUFORD DAM PARK AT LAKE LANIER
Multiple response agencies were actively searching the lake this afternoon for an adult male in his late 40’s who was last seen going under the water and did not resurface. Preliminary information indicates that the man was at the lake enjoying the beach area with family members when the incident occurred. He was swimming in an area that was just past the designated (yellow) swimming line. According to firefighters from the Gwinnett Fire Swiftwater Rescue Team, the man was located at the bottom of the lake (approximately 50-60 feet off the shore) in about 8-foot of water. He was removed by a Gwinnett Fire Rescue Boat and carried to a waiting ambulance. The man was unresponsive and was transported to a nearby hospital in critical/life-threatening condition. The Gwinnett Fire-PIO is unable to provide the name of the victim or specific medical condition due to Federal Patient Privacy Laws known as HIPAA.
There was a language barrier at the time of the 9-1-1 call and Language Line service was used to communicate with the caller. This is a tragic incident and all visitors to the lake are encouraged to wear a lifejacket and to stay within designated swimming areas.
INCIDENT DATE: 09/10/16
TIME DISPATCHED: 3:45P.M.
TIME ARRIVED: 3:52P.M.
TIME VICTIM LOCATED: 4:41P.M.
TIME TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL: 4:45P.M.
The address is 1200 Buford Dam Road, NE in (unincorporated) Buford inside Gwinnett County Agencies that responded to the incident included:
Gwinnett Fire
Forsyth Fire
Hall County Fire
Gwinnett Police
Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Georgia DNR
The scene was turned over to Gwinnett County Police for report handling. All Fire Department units have returned to service.