Holiday weekend drownings in NE Ga lakes

A young boy drowns in Lake Russell. Habersham County 911 says it happened over the holiday weekend near Lake Russell Beach. Brian Ramirez was 12 years old, from Cornelia.

We have this morning the name of the man who died in a holiday weekend drowning on Lake Hartwell: Constantin Pascal was 45 years old, from Lawrenceville. The Hart County Sheriff’s Office says he went into the water to help secure the lifejacket of one of his young sons, went under, and never resurfaced.

From WSB TV…

A man is dead after officials say he was helping secure his son’s life jacket on a boating trip.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources told Channel 2 Action News that on Friday, Georgia Game Wardens received reports of drowning at Paynes Creek Boat Ramp on Lake Hartwell.

According to witnesses, 45-year-old Contstantin Pascal of Lawrenceville was pulling his son on a tube on the water when he noticed the child’s life jacket had become unfastened.

Soon after, officials said a passerby rescued the child from the water and took him to the boat ramp.

Game Wardens and local authorities conducted a search with SONAR, surface searches and utilized divers in several locations around the lake.

DNR said on Saturday at 6:40 p.m., Pascal’s body was recovered 43 feet underwater.

Authorities have not provided information regarding the son’s condition.

Additional information surrounding the investigation has not been released.

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