Authorities say a Chapel Hill man drowned Monday at Jordan Lake after he went into the water to retrieve a drifting boat. Crews from multiple agencies later pulled his body from the water near a boat access area south of Chapel Hill.
What Happened
The Chatham County Sheriff's Office identified the victim as 44-year-old De Gui Yuan of Chapel Hill. Deputies were called to a lake-access area off Martha's Chapel Church Road near 605 Farrington Point Road, according to WRAL. North Chatham Fire Department, FirstHealth EMS, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner also responded, and dive teams later recovered Yuan's body. The sheriff's office said it has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
A Pattern of Drownings at Jordan Lake
Jordan Lake has seen multiple drownings over the past year, a run of incidents that has prompted repeated warnings from local officials and dive teams about hidden hazards and strong currents near popular access points. Hoodline documented earlier incidents and community concern about the lake's unpredictable conditions and debris near the Farrington and Martha's Chapel access areas, which emergency crews have repeatedly described as dangerous.
State Safety Guidance
State authorities and local agencies regularly urge boaters and swimmers to wear properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets and to carry required safety gear any time they are on the water. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission highlights life-jacket use, boater education and sober operation as key steps to reduce drownings and boating incidents, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
Investigation Continues
The Chatham County Sheriff's Office said the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will review the case as deputies work to determine the exact cause and sequence of events, per WRAL. Officials asked anyone with information or video from the area to contact the sheriff's office and extended condolences to Yuan's family.
