Third drowning in two weeks at West Point Lake claims life of Atlanta man
A 32-year-old Atlanta man drowned Sunday afternoon in West Point Lake, marking the third such tragedy at the lake since the beginning of July.
At approximately 12:43 p.m. on July 13, Troup County 911 received a call reporting that an adult male swimmer had gone underwater and failed to resurface at McGee Bridge Park off Old Roanoke Road. Emergency responders, including the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, were immediately dispatched to the scene.
Once on site and after confirming that the swimmer was still missing, the Troup County Fire Department Dive Team was deployed. Utilizing boat operations and underwater search efforts, the dive team recovered the victim from the water shortly thereafter. The victim has been identified as Deshun Mayfield, 32, of Atlanta.
Authorities say the incident appears to be a tragic swimming accident. It follows two other recent drownings in West Point Lake in the last two weeks, raising concern among officials and prompting renewed calls for caution.
“This is the third drowning on West Point Lake since July 1st,” the Troup County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “We want to remind everyone of the dangers of swimming, especially in a large body of water. Even the most experienced swimmers should consider wearing a life jacket or using a flotation device. Our hearts are with the victim’s family and friends during this difficult time.”
Authorities remain investigating the tragic swimming accident.
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