Man Dies After Jumping Off Jet Ski in Lake Lanier

Photo credit: Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Georgia’s most notorious body of water continues to live up to its reputation this year. Another man has died on Lake Lanier, according to state officials.

The unfortunate accident happened early Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, after a man disappeared after jumping off a jet ski into Lake Lanier, according to Hall County officials. The man’s girlfriend said he jumped off to swim back to shore but never re-emerged after plunging into the water.

Rescue workers with Gwinnett County Fire, Hall County Fire, and volunteer drivers looked for him on Saturday and we’re joined by Georgia Department of Natural Resources (workers on Sunday, but they all came up empty.

The body of Walter Guardado, 37, was retrieved from the waters on Monday afternoon, state officials confirmed.

Guardado was a father of two children, according to media reports.

Final Word

Read about the history of Lake Lanier.

Today, Lake Lanier covers the area where Oscarville and several other communities once stood. Although the town itself is now submerged, efforts have been made to preserve and commemorate its history, including the establishment of the Oscarville Historic District, which recognizes the significance of the town and its impact on the local area.

Tee Johnson: Tee Johnson is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of AtlantaFi.com, Atlanta’s independent hyper-local publication focused on news, restaurants, events, jobs, neighborhoods, and lifestyle. A 15+ year Atlanta resident and longtime journalist and content creator, she covers Travel News, Events, Business, Hair Care, and Money with a practical, Atlanta-first lens. Before launching the site, Johnson worked as a substitute teacher in Atlanta Public Schools and later in corporate roles at Home Depot’s Vinings offices. A marketer by training with a degree in business management, she grew frustrated with the fragmented, hard-to-find information about what was actually happening in the city. That gap led her to create AtlantaFi as a curated, one-stop resource for the pulse of Atlanta—#ATLHAPS—without the national noise. Editorial decisions remain independent; the publication does not accept products, meals, or services in exchange for coverage. As Editor-in-Chief, she oversees original local reporting and curated practical guides that help residents, visitors, and businesses discover and engage with the city. Readers turn to her work for timely event roundups, dining and neighborhood insights, business and travel updates, and straightforward money and lifestyle coverage grounded in firsthand observation of Atlanta. A devoted lover of all things Atlanta, Tee enjoys pickleball, a good margarita or bourbon, and walking the Atlanta Beltline. She can be reached for editorial inquiries at tjohnson@atlantafi.com (serious inquiries only).

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