Two Drown over Weekend at Lake Lanier

A 40-year-old father and his 14-year-old stepson both from Lawrenceville, drowned in Lake Lanier Saturday, according to authorities.

Sgt. Stephen Wilbanks of the Hall County Sheriff's Office said Jose Alfredo Benitez was fishing on the shoreline of Mountain View Park, off Browns Bridge Road, while his two sons were swimming in the lake.

It's believed Carlos Amaya, 14, and his older brother decided to swim out across the cove to some small islands located about 60 yards from shore.

"The 14-year-old became distressed, either through fatigue, cause the water was so cold, we really don't know," said Wilbanks. "But he got into trouble and his older brother attempted to help him and wasn't able to.

Wilbanks said by this time the father noticed what was happening and swam out to help his young son.

"Both went under and did not resurface," he said. "We don't know if it was a situation where when he got out to him and tried to render aid, sometimes it's the case the panic swimmer will latch onto a rescuer, and unfortunately take both down."

Wilbanks said when divers located both victims they were in close proximity of one another on the bottom of the lake.

Hall County Fire Department divers recovered the bodies around sunset, with assistance from divers of the Forsyth County Fire Department.

Captain Jason Shivers with the FCFD urged residents and visitors headed to the lake for an outing to take caution.

"It's still spring time – the water of Lake Lanier is still very cold," he said. "It has not yet reached its summer time temperatures and even though it may be warm outdoors, the water temperature is still deadly cold."

Shivers suggest staying out of the water until the hotter temperatures arrive.

"If you do venture out into the water, whether you can swim or not, you've got to maintain a personal floatation device. In fact stay out of the water if you can't swim."

The drownings in Lake Lanier are the first of the year.