Man dies after falling into Lake Lanier

HALL COUNTY, Ga. — A man is dead after officials say he drowned in Lake Lanier.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources officials told Channel 2 Action News that game wardens received reports of a drowning at Holiday Marina on Lake Lanier.

According to the investigation, a man was running down a dock, slipped, fell into the water and did not resurface.

Hall County Fire Rescue crews recovered the victim’s body in 17 feet of water.

The victim was identified as 23-year-old Gavrie Alexander Whitlock of Snellville.

Channel 2′s Elizabeth Rawlins spoke to family members Monday, who said they are absolutely heartbroken and shared Whitlock’s picture.

Hundreds of people were taking to social media to grieve and reflect on the friend that Whitlock was.

“There was never a dull or serious moment when Gavrie was in the room,” one friend wrote.

Boaters told Rawlins that people aren’t supposed to swim around the docks.

“You go to the lake to have fun, and then something like this happens,” one boater said. “That’s crazy. There’s a tons of people around. It’s a really safe area from what I can tell.

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