An Atlanta man has tragically drowned at West Point Lake, making this the third such incident to happen at the lake since the start of July. The Troup County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that 32-year-old Deshun Mayfield was swimming near McGee Bridge Park when he went underwater and did not resurface, as detailed in a WTVM report. A 911 call was placed around 12:43 p.m. on Sunday, leading to a search and recovery effort by multiple agencies.
Emergency services, including the Troup County Fire Department's dive team, were swiftly dispatched to the scene. They managed to quickly recover Mayfield's body using boat operations. Noting the unusual cluster of drownings in a short span of time, the sheriff's office is now urging the public to always exercise caution. "Even the most experienced swimmers should consider wearing a life jacket or have a flotation device when swimming in large bodies of water," said Lt. Stewart Smith in a statement obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta. This advice comes as the lake, a place frequented by swimmers throughout the summer, has already seen as many drownings in July as it traditionally would over the course of an entire season.
Previous incidents this month included the drownings of 22-year-old Larenz Collins of Stockbridge on July 1 at R. Shaefer Heard Park and 21-year-old Marquice Rice of Forsyth on July 5 at Horace King Park. These cases, like Mayfield's, represent a distressing trend highlighted by local authorities.
In lieu of this recent incident, Troup County officials are reiterating their condolences to the families of the victims and are reminding all visitors to West Point Lake to take necessary safety precautions while enjoying the water. Detailed statistics from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources indicate that drownings in the region have been a persistent issue, with varying numbers annually. The 2024 total of 57 drownings across various Georgian regions underscores the need for continued water safety awareness and education efforts.
