Search resumes for missing boater; DNR in 'search and recovery' mode
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Department of Natural Resources officers resumed searching Monday for the body of a man in his late 50s whose fishing boat capsized on the Chattahoochee River Sunday morning.

"They've got three or four boats on the river this morning, and they will be searching most of the day," DNR spokeswoman Robin Hill told the AJC Monday morning.

Rescuers searched for more than six hours Sunday. The operation has changed from "search and rescue" to "search and recovery," officials said.

When the small aluminum boat carrying two men struck a log and overturned about 11:40 a.m. south of McGinnis Ferry Road, they drifted for about 10 minutes before another boater encountered them.

"One man was clinging to the overturned boat and a second man was in the middle of the water across the river," Gwinnett County Fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge said. "The witness stated that he was able to quickly reach the man in the middle of the river and was attempting to reach the second man who was clinging to the overturned boat. Before he could reach him the boat was sucked under, taking the man with it."

The man who was rescued was conscious and alert but showing signs of hypothermia. He was taken to Gwinnett Medical Center.

The men in the capsized boat were not wearing lifejackets, according to the other boater.

The temperature in the water was in the mid-40s, Rutledge said. At that temperature, he added, "It doesn't take more than just a few minutes to feel the effects of hypothermia."

Authorities are withholding the names of both men from the capsized boat.

Firefighters trained for water rescue searched an 8- to 10-mile stretch of the river while a Gwinnett County police helicopter flew overhead. The searchers, equipped with a sonar device, concentrated their efforts between McGinnis Ferry Road and Medlock Bridge Road. They recovered the Jon boat nearly a mile south of McGinnis Ferry Road.

The search involved personnel from Gwinnett and Forsyth counties, the city of Johns Creek and the DNR.

It was the second incident firefighters responded to on the river Sunday. About 10:15 a.m., Gwinnett's Swiftwater Rescue Team pulled to safety a fisherman who was clinging to a tree branch. He had been fishing in a float tube when he was pulled away by swift, rising waters in the area of Buford Dam.

Rutledge said the sunny weather likely brought out more boaters Sunday. At the same time, the Army Corps of Engineers released water from the Buford Dam to operate the power plant that provides electricity for Lake Lanier.

"Water was generated from the dam early Sunday morning and stopped at about 11:10 a.m.," Rutledge said. "The current quickens and the water rises and it takes several hours for that to recede."

In addition to the DNR boats, Forsyth County's sonar device "is on standby in case we need it," said Hill, the DNR spokeswoman.

--It's always horrible to hear about an incident like this....a couple of guys out fishing, one winds up in the hospital, the other one winds up dead.

Be careful out there, ESPECIALLY IN OUR RIVERS.

As a S. Florida native and newbie to the lake, I've never encountered cold water like we have now.

Sometime in January I was alone on the lake fishing in cold weather and washed my hands in the water. It hit me then just how dangerous it was to be out there in almost icy weather with 40 degree water surrounding me. Heck, considering the layers I wear, if I fell in, I would have to strip just to stay up.

I've since invested in 2 automatic/manual vests. I'm wearing one until the water hits 70 no matter how many people are in the boat. I even thought the other night about trying to find a compact waterproof flair that I could attach to my primary vest.

GOOD THINKING IF YOU FELL IN THAT COLD WATER YOU WOULD HAVE 2 MINUTES TO GET BACK IN YOUR BOAT OR YOU WOULD NOT MAKE IT.

laxcoach, it would be a good idea to wear the automatic vest even after the water hits 70 degrees. You never know when you might fall and hit your head. If you hit your head you might just sink fast and keep going. Can't swim to safety or climb out of the water if you're unconscious, and it's dang difficult for one person to pull someone out of the water into a boat. Just ask Brett.

Good point on the vest in any type of water. Being a paramedic locally I have seen instances where people have hit their head or had a mild heart attack and drowned simply because they could not swim and stay afloat. Guys, WEAR YOUR VEST AT ALL TIMES the life you save could be your own.

I guess I'm not going to do any fly fishing in the Hooch until that body shows up.

I think they recovered his body yesterday.

I'll reconsider wearing the vest at all times. It's hard to see myself wearing it when it is boiling hot though.