The Dalton Police and Fire Departments were on scene at Haig Mill Lake Park responding to a report of a possible drowning Saturday evening.
Personnel and water craft from the Department of Natural Resources and Gordon County Fire Rescue and the Georgia State Patrol Dive Team are also responding to assist with a search for the victim.
Preliminary information from the investigation indicates that the victim, a 26 year old male, was with his brother-in-law using kayaks on the water. The victim had apparently taken off his life jacket while near a dock on the lake near the northern dam. For reasons that aren’t yet fully clear, at some point the victim swam out into the lake, possibly trying to retrieve a kayak that had drifted away. The victim reportedly became tired and began calling for help. He eventually fell beneath the surface of the water. A person who was fishing on the other side of the lake made a 911 call at 7:02 pm to call for help. When first responders from the the Dalton Fire Department’s nearby station 3 arrived there was no sign of the victim.
Personnel were still on scene searching for the victim Saturday night. Haig Mill Lake Park was closed to the public to make way for the search.
There is no indication of any foul play in this incident.
Submitted by the City of Dalton.