The tranquility of Haig Mill Lake Park in Dalton was shattered this past weekend when a kayaking excursion turned into tragedy. FOX 5 Atlanta reports that the body of 26-year-old Ivan Gonzales was retrieved from Haig Mill Lake late Saturday evening in what authorities believe to be a case of accidental drowning.
According to details released by Dalton Police Department, the incident happened as Gonzales, a resident of Calhoun, Georgia, was kayaking with his brother-in-law. It seems that Gonzales had taken off his life jacket while near a dock, potentially to carefully retrieve a kayak that had drifted away. As he swam out into the lake, fatigue overcame him and crisis struck; the man started to urgently call for help before disappearing beneath the surface. A 911 call from a fisherman, made at 7:02 p.m., was the first alert to emergency services of the dire situation, as reported by FOX5 Atlanta.
The joint efforts of the Dalton Police Department and Dalton Fire Departments, alongside the assistance of the Department of Natural Resources, the Georgia State Patrol’s Dive Team, and Gordon County Fire Rescue, culminated in the recovery of Gonzales's body, as per News Channel 9. Upon their arrival, there had been no immediate sign of Gonzales. The search stretched out for nearly five hours before the grim discovery was made.
In the wake of the incident, Haig Mill Lake Park was closed on Sunday to allow for an extensive investigation, though initial assessments have not suggested any suspicion of foul play. Dalton Police Department underscored the accidental nature of the event, indicating that no further details would be made public on Saturday night out of respect for the family's need to be properly notified.
