(Buford, Ga., June 2, 2018) – Firefighters responded at 4:05 p.m. to a bystander report of a drowning victim at Lanier Park (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) in Buford. Caller to 9-1-1 advised a swimmer went under the water five minutes ago.

Crews arrived on scene at Lanier Park and gathered information on the location where the adult male victim 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 stated 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 victim 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.

The Fire-PIO is unable to release the name of the victim based on Federal Patient Privacy Laws known as HIPAA.  The name of the victim will be released by either the Medical Examiner’s Office or the Georgia Department of Natural Resources when available. According to the US 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. This initial information is being released by Gwinnett Fire but any additional inquires relating to the incident can be directed to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division.

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: 2-Engines, 1-Truck, 1-Medic Unit, 1-Swiftwater Recue Unit, 1-Battalion Chief, 1-Deputy Chief and 1-PIO.