Lake Lanier has claimed yet another life in Georgia according to TMZ.
This one is very bizarre.
24-year-old Thomas Milner was killed Thursday after he reportedly jumped into the water from his nearby family dock — only to start screaming moments later and calling for help … apparently, he was being electrocuted from within the lake itself.
A man is dead after officials say he jumped into Lake Lanier and was electrocuted
Authorities have not said what led to the water being electrified.https://t.co/uxn3brVmcJ
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 30, 2023
Reports say, citing Georgia officials, that family friends tried pulling Milner out … but were unsuccessful.
It seems a neighbor had to actually drive over to his location with their own boat — only for someone in the boat to finally jump in and attempt to bring him ashore.
That person, who hasn’t been identified, reportedly told authorities they started to feel a burning sensation as soon as they got into the water … which they assumed was electricity.
According to one local outlet, the diver actually got out of the water briefly … turned off a power box that was adjacent to the dock … and then went back in to get Milner, at which point they were able to pull him out.
Unfortunately, it was too late for everyone involved.
They tried life-saving measures, but Milner later died at a hospital.
There’s no official word why the water had electric currents in it — but, believe it or not, this is something Lake Lanier officials have actually warned the public about over the years … citing the risk of “electric shock drowning.”
Some say faulty outlets could cause this..
Here’s another thing … there’s a dam not too far from where Milner died (around Dove Trail) that actually generates a ton of power for surrounding counties.
According to Lake Lanier’s own site … “Buford Dam produces hydo-electric power for surrounding counties. Tubes continuously pass water through the dam at a minimum rate of 600 cubic feet per second (CFS).”
Lastly … officials have actually told people to swim in Lake Lanier at their own risk of late — as this body of water has caused upwards of 700 deaths dating back to the ’50s.
We are with Tameka Foster who started a petition to have the lake drained.
To date there has been over 700 deaths reported.