Dad vanishes after jumping into lake to help son with loose life jacket, GA cops say
A father died after jumping into a popular Georgia lake to help his son, officials said.
The Hart County Sheriff’s Office said two children were tubing on Lake Hartwell when a wave knocked one of boy’s life jackets loose. Their dad went into the water to help but didn’t resurface Friday, June 16, according to WHNS and Sheriff Mike Cleveland.
A person on a jet ski later found the child and took him to safety, officials said.
Crews used divers and sonar technology to search for the missing dad. His body was found about 40 feet under water on June 17, the day before Father’s Day, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Law Enforcement Division.
The father was identified in a news release as a 45-year-old Contstantin Pascal of Lawrenceville. Though Pascal is believed to have drowned, an investigation into his cause of death is ongoing and an autopsy is planned, according to WHNS.
The dad wasn’t wearing a life jacket when he entered the water, Cleveland told McClatchy News in a phone interview.
The incident was reported near Paynes Creek Campground on Lake Hartwell, a popular place for fishing, boating and other waterfront activities. The lake straddles the South Carolina border, roughly 110 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta.
Drowning
At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children.
Some factors can make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim, a lack of close supervision, not wearing a life jacket and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water.
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance said there are tips to help keep you safe in the water, including checking local weather conditions, never swimming alone and choosing the right equipment.
“Don’t hesitate to get out of the water if something doesn’t feel right,” the group said on its website. “Whether it’s that the current is getting rough, rain has started to fall, or your body is just not responding like you would like it to due to fatigue or muscle cramps, then just leave and return to the water another day. It’s always a good thing to trust your instincts.”
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