On 09/05/2023 at 1713 HRS, I, Corporal with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources was notified of a possible drowning on the Tussahaw Reservoir in Henry County by Henry County Water Authority Officials. Initial witness statements indicated that a male subject fell out of a boat and went underwater while attempting to load it onto a trailer. 

The male was submerged for a period of time and was unresponsive when he was recovered from the water. Life saving measures were performed at the boat ramp but were unsuccessful at the time I received the call. 

	I arrived on scene at the Tussahaw Reservoir to investigate the incident at 1838 HRS. I met with the Henry County Officers on scene and was informed that a male subject had fallen into the water and possibly drowned while boating at the reservoir. I spoke with witnesses at the scene and learned that Victim and his friend were fishing the Tussahaw Reservoir that afternoon in a brown G3 Jon Boat. 

At approximately 1640 HRS, Victim dropped Friend off on the West dock of the reservoir so that Friend could back the boat trailer into the water at the ramp. After dropping Friend off, Victim drove the boat out into the reservoir approximately 50-80 yds off of the bank. At approximately 1645 HRS, Victim was seen by witnesses falling into the water. 

Victim was then seen floating face down in the water next to the boat. Witnesses on the bank began yelling for help and Friend dove into the water and began swimming to Victim. After Friend made it to Victim and the boat, Friend began calling out for help. 

A bystander swam out to Friend and assisted him with getting Victim and the boat back to the bank. Subject1 later explained that Victim's shirt was hung on a rod holder which kept him at the surface of the water. After Friend and Subject1 brought the boat and Victim back to the bank, CPR was performed on Victim and EMS was notified. EMS eventually arrived on scene and continued performing life saving measures. All life saving measures were unsuccessful. Deputy Coroner arrived on scene and Victim was pronounced deceased. Victim was then transported to a hospital in Dekalb County.

	After receiving information from the witnesses and meeting with the Deputy Coroner, I walked over to the G3 boat to documents the vessel's information. While investigating the boat with Henry County Water Authority Ranger, I learned that Ranger had performed a safety check on Friend and Victim earlier that afternoon. Ranger observed that they had the required number of PFDs (life jackets) on board but they were not being worn by Friend and Victim while they were boating.  

	After completing my investigation, Friend and the G3 boat were transported from the scene with assistance from Henry County Officers and Subject1.

	On 09/07/2023, I was informed by Deputy Coroner that Victim's cause of death was drowning. As of 09/12/2023, the full autopsy report is pending. 

Interviews with witnesses recorded on body worn camera. 

Tussahaw Creek
LOCUST GROVE                  