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Family remembers veteran who drowned in Allatoona

BARTOW COUNTY, Ga — Funeral arrangements have been made for a Gwinnett County man who drowned Sunday afternoon in Lake Allatoona.

According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Ryan Tyndall, 25, died Sunday after attempting to retrieve a float. Officials said Ryan was not wearing a life jacket and was swimming away from the shore when he went under.

Ryan was a veteran of the war in Afghanistan. His family told Channel 2’s Linda Stouffer, it’s still hard to believe he’s gone.

“Truly hit us hard,” sister Jennifer Tyndall said.

“He’d do anything, he was just a great person, he was quiet. He loved his family,” Tyndall said.

Ryan’s family said he knew how to swim and probably didn’t think twice about swimming 75 yards out to chase down a float.

However, people noticed he was struggling.

“Couple guys jumped in and they could see him bobbing up. By the time they got to him he was under,” Tyndall said. “I think the current just wore him out, so, it was only 9 feet of water.

Now the family is struggling with funeral expenses and are trying to raise money for the service through a gofundme website so they can honor the veteran and help support his children.

“That’s the hardest part, not only losing Ryan, but seeing Christina and those kids and we love them, we’re here,” Tyndall said.

The viewing and visitation for Tyndall is set for 10 a.m.-1  p.m. Friday at Valley Brook Baptist Church, 1198 North Valley Brook Road.

The service will be held at 1 p.m. Following the service, the burial will be at Eternal Hills Memory Gardens Stone Mountain Highway, Snellville, Georgia.