What’s happening in Lake Lanier in Georgia, United States? Six people died in one month, five drowned and one was electrocuted

A mystery surrounds Lake Lanier -Lake Lanier-, in Georgia, where six people died in the past month: five drowned and one was electrocuted. Four of the deceased were Hispanic.

On August 18, Univisión reported that “Lake Lanier has seen more than 200 deaths in Georgia since 1994.”

Journalist Jensser Morales, of Univisión 34 Atlanta, reviewed the cases over the past month and gave a voice to the families of the victims.

Thomas Milner and Tracey Stewart died on August 27, 2023. Leonardo Martínez, who is from Venezuela, died two days later.

Milner, 24, was electrocuted. And Stewart, 61, lost her life while swimming on a boat trip, according to 11 Alive.

On August 13, Christian Palacios died, on the 21st of that month Brayan Tarazona from Colombia, and on Saturday the 26th Edgar Steven Cruz Martínez.

Man dies while trying to save his two daughters in a lake in the United States: he heard the screams and jumped into the water without putting on a life jacket

It seemed they had him by the feet: Edgar Cruz’s father

Cruz Martínez was a 23-year-old Salvadoran. She was in the United States for at least eight months and leaves behind a three-month-old baby.

My son was happy to be here, we worked together, unfortunately that place took him away.

Aquiles Amaya for Univision 34 Atlanta

His father spoke to the journalist Morales and said that Edgar was a swimmer.

“He asked for help for about five minutes, asked for help… it seemed that they grabbed him by the feet and suddenly he sank so that he did not surface,” Aquiles Amaya said.

“They tell me my son was swimming and suddenly sank, yes, he went down.” And he wonders, “Why, if he knew how to swim?”

Amaya points this out to Univision Atlanta “You have to see what happens in the lake. There’s something going on there.”.

According to the Salvadoran’s father, the authorities arrived half an hour later and found him after 45 minutes.

Enter Lake Lanier with respect: the sister of Leonardo Martinez

Venezuelan Leonardo Martínez disappeared in the waters of the “Lanier” on July 29 and his body was found on August 3.

Leonardo asked people not to talk about death.

lilian, sister

A friend, David, said they were in the Bay Area when the state of emergency hit.

Leonardo’s family, published by Univisión, pointed out that the young man “had experience sailing on Lake Lanier.”

“They were 10 to 15 meters from the island of Las Tres Hermanas when he let go of the boat and the two people who accompanied him no longer saw him. For a moment they thought it was a joke, but when they realized it, they called the police,” says Liliana, her sister.

Leonardo disappeared on Saturday, July 29 at about 9 p.m. on Three Sisters Island, in Gwinnett County,

His sister said that even though it hurts, it was God’s decision. “Leonardo is with God in heaven.”

He thanked those who supported the family in the search for their relative and called for reflection: “Enter Lake Lanier with respect and I ask the authorities to impose more restrictions.”

He added: “My brother was very special, he loved to share, help and experience the adrenaline of ‘rustiqueo’.

They find the body of “Glee” actress Naya Rivera in a California lake

“There’s something about that lake, it was like someone was pulling it”: Bryan Tarazona’s sister

On August 21, 22-year-old Bryan Tarazona lost his life in the waters of Lake Lanier itself.

“My brother was swimming, normally, and suddenly he drowned, without any explanation. It was like something was stopping her from swimming,” Adelaida Ortega told journalist Jensser Morales.

A native of Colombia, Tarazona was with some friends and his sister at a family gathering at the lake. “I had barely been in the United States for two months.”

His sister remembers that Bryan, younger than her, raised his hands, lifted his face and shouted, Help me!

Adelaida Ortega begged for help for Bryan: “my brother drowns“, call

-Everyone was scared, he remarked.

My brother sank and didn’t come out again, that was within seconds, he described between regret and surprise.

Today he looks back: ‘As much as someone would have liked to help him, he wouldn’t have gained weight, because Bryan soon sank.’

To me that has more to it…everyone who was there said it was like their feet were tied. Like someone pulled it.

Adelaida Ortega, Bryan’s sister

With the impressive scene in mind, Ortega is asking authorities to restrict access to certain parts of Lake Lenier.

In networking, user @patri_thevenezuelan opined: “It could be that there are currents under water or who knows what mysteries that hides more”

As Katy Marquez said, “You have to read the history of that lake, apparently a city once stood there and that lake was built on it.”

Others comment on the need to wear life jackets and be careful about the hours, avoiding getting into the water at night.

Adelaida Ortega, who remembered her children seeing what happened to Bryan, commented that at night, “I hear him calling for help.” (JO)