Body of Lake Lanier Swimmer Recovered, Officials Say

Overview

• Emergency calls sent deputies to a park on Lake Lanier after friends said a 21-year-old swimmer went underwater while swimming toward an island and did not resurface.
• Hall County Sheriff's Office, Hall County Fire Rescue and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources launched a coordinated response that used land teams, marine units and dive teams.
• Search crews worked through the water column into the evening but suspended dive operations at night because of darkness and the lake's challenging conditions.
• Authorities recovered a body during resumed recovery efforts and identified the swimmer as 21-year-old Terrell Shelton; investigators describe the death as a suspected drowning.
• Lake Lanier sees heavy recreational use and hazards such as drop-offs, low visibility and underwater debris often complicate rescues and drive ongoing safety and investigative follow-up.