Lake Lanier drowning victim identified

At approximately 5:00 p.m. Sunday evening, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office and the Hall County Fire Department were dispatched to Old Federal Campground in response to a report of a possible drowning.

Upon arrival, deputies learned that 18-year-old Duy Nguyen had been floating on a piece of Styrofoam with three friends when the group decided to swim approximately 50 to 100 yards to the shore.

According to Major Jeff Strickland of the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Nguyen became “distressed” while trying to reach the shore. One of the other swimmers attempted to assist him, but was unsuccessful. Nguyen went under and did not resurface.

The Fire Department Dive Team immediately began a rescue attempt and searched for over an hour in an attempt to locate Nguyen. The Hall County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team then took over the search effort and was able to recover the body at approximately 7:20 p.m. Nguyen was found in 28 feet of water approximately 43 yards from shore.

The incident remains under investigation by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. There is no foul play is suspected at this time.