LaGrange College football player dies in tragic swimming accident on West Point Lake
A LaGrange College football player has died in a tragic swimming accident on West Point Lake Saturday night.
Troup County 911 received a call of a swimmer who had possibly gone underwater and did not resurface in West Point Lake at Horace King Park off Roanoke Road on July 5, 2025, at 8:50 PM. Local emergency personnel were immediately dispatched to the location including the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Corp of Engineers.
Once on scene and it was confirmed that the swimmer had not been located, the Troup County Fire Department Dive Team was activated and responded to the location. At approximately 10:14 PM, the victim was recovered from the water, and he has been identified as Marquis Rice, 21 years old, of Forsyth, Georgia. Rice was a majoring in business management and was a defensive back for the football program, according to the LaGrange Athletics website.
“At this point, this appears to be a tragic swimming accident,” authorities said. “Unfortunately, this is the second drowning incident on West Point Lake in less than one week and a sad reminder of the dangers of swimming, especially in a large body of water.“
Keep these families and emergency responders in your thoughts and prayers.
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