As the nice weather facilitates more people out on the water, the deaths continue for Lake Lanier. Georgia officials confirm that an Atlanta man died while swimming in Lake Lanier over the weekend.
Edgar Steven Cruz Martinez, 23, visited the lake on Saturday, August 26, 2023 and went under the water for a swim. About 3 p.m. that day, first responders with the Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office arrived after receiving a call about a possible drowning at Lake Lanier.
When they arrived, observers said that Martinez never resurfaced after going for a swim. Officials found his body in about 10 feet of water.
Martinez is the seventh person to drown in Lake Lanier this year.
Why Do So Many People Drown In Lake Lanier?
One of the reasons Lake Lanier has so many fatalities year in and year out is that people fail to follow safe boating practices, according to safety officials. Boating under the influence continues to be an issue on the man-made lake. People boating without safety vests on also has been frequently observed.
There are also some curious incidents that have occurred on the lake that have raised questions about its past. Read our Untold History of Lake Lanier.