Henry County authorities say a weekend paddle on the South River turned into a tragic discovery when a kayaker spotted a body in the water Sunday evening. Officers were dispatched to the area of Highway 81 East and River Road around 6:31 p.m., where they found the lifeless body of an unidentified person near a concrete dam. Emergency crews recovered the body, and investigators say the probe into what happened remains active.
According to 95.5 WSB, the call came from the kayaker who saw the person near the concrete dam and alerted authorities, prompting the response from Henry County. Investigators were called to the scene, police described the case as an active investigation, and no identification has been released.
Where This Happened
The South River flows through several counties southeast of Atlanta and has seen a rise in recreational traffic, including kayakers and canoeists. New launches have been added at spots such as Lorraine Park and Rivers Bend Park, and, as Arabia Alliance notes, community groups and local parks have worked in recent years to expand public access along the water trail. With more people on the river, there are more eyes on hazards that can be hard to notice until you are right on top of them.
Why Small Dams Are So Dangerous
Even relatively small concrete dams can be treacherous. Experts warn that they can create powerful recirculating currents, sometimes called "drowning machines," that pull swimmers and boaters into a churning hydraulic that is extremely difficult to escape. As American Rivers and engineering groups report, low-head dams are linked to dozens of recreational fatalities every year and are often deceptively hard to see from the water until it is too late. Concerns like these are a major reason river advocates keep pushing for better warning signs, safety improvements or removal of obsolete structures.
How To Help
Henry County officials have not released the victim's name, and anyone with information is asked to contact local law enforcement. The Henry County Sheriff's Office lists its tip line at (770) 288-7023 and its main number at (770) 288-7100. Authorities have not said whether an autopsy or identification process is complete and have asked the public to avoid speculation while the investigation continues.
The investigation remains active, and authorities have not released additional details about the cause of death or a timeline for identification, according to 95.5 WSB. This story will be updated if officials release more information.
