Body of Snellville man pulled from Lake Lanier

HALL COUNTY, Ga. — A Gwinnett County man is dead after drowning in Lake Lanier Tuesday evening.

Witnesses told Channel 2’s Carl Willis that people were enjoying the sun and the water at Van Pugh North Park when they heard sounds of distress.

"They said he was calling for help, kind of thrashing, and he kind of went under. And people went out," said Kyle Brule, an advanced emergency medical technician.

Brule was out at the lake to ride his kayak when he heard the commotion. He told Willis he immediately dove into the water to help the rescue effort.

"But the water visibility was so poor. We were out there for about 10 minutes trying to dive as far as we could under," Brule said.

The Hall County Fire Services marine rescue team arrived and took over. About 50 minutes later, they say, they found Robert St. Louis, 29, of Snellville, in about 20 feet of water.

Elsa Hernandez watched from the shore.

"A whole bunch of people crying and it was just really sad and we just stood quiet for a minute," Hernandez said.

"I didn't know him, but still I feel a great bit of sorrow, and I feel for his family and his friends,” Brule said.

The Hall County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office all worked to save the victim.

"Everyone who showed up did everything they can. He was just, unfortunately, under for too long," Brule said.

Cox Media Group