Update: After over 20 hours of searching for a missing kayaker, his body has finally been recovered. According to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, the victim is David Southin, 41, of Lawrenceville. Authorities have not released any further details about his death at this time.
Original Story: A rescue team has been searching all day for a missing kayaker in the Chattahoochee River, according to the Gwinnett County Fire Department.
Lt. Donald Strother issued a statement saying firefighters responded to the river at 1:23 a.m. to a report of a missing kayaker. He said they found Forsyth County's Swiftwater Rescue Team already at the scene, and their team members had already found the kayak. They called Gwinnett County officials for assistance, since it appeared the incident had occurred in the Gwinnett County part of the river.
"Gwinnett’s Swiftwater 14 (SW14) made entrance into the water at the McGinnis Ferry boat ramp," Strother said in a media statement. "Air 1 responded to the request for assistance but was unable to see any victims while using their infrared and their spotlight was not in operation."
Searchers tried to retrieve the rope attached to the kayak, but were unable to do so.
"The search was discontinued once fog conditions created low visibility and hindered further travel," Strother said. "At 3:30 a.m., the command decision was made to restart the search during daylight hours."
Gwinnett Swiftwater Rescue Technicians resumed their search around 8:30 a.m., but at last report, there had been no sign of the missing kayaker.
Strother said Air 1, Johns Creek Fire Department, Forsyth County’s Dive Team, U.S. National Park Service, Georgia Department of National Resources, the Forsyth County’s Sheriff's Office and the Suwanee Police Department have been assisting with the operation.
