73-Year-Old Man Is Latest Death at Lake Lanier After Falling from Fishing Boat

Since 1994, the Georgia lake has seen over 200 fatalities

Authorities said a 73-year-old man drowned on Wednesday, May 29, after falling from his boat during a fishing excursion in Georgia’s Lake Lanier.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the victim was identified as Matthew Mayo of Gainesville.

According to the DNR, Mayo was fishing off a bass boat with his wife before fall overboard. "When the man tried to sit down in the seat, it became unbolted from the floor and caused him to fall into the water. He did not resurface," the department said.

Related: Father and 14-Year-Old Son Drown in Lake After Dad Tried to Rescue Teen: '2 Beautiful Souls'

"A short time later, Game Wardens were able to use boat-mounted SONAR to locate the subject in six feet of water. Hall County Fire was able to use their ROV (Remote Operated Vessel) to recover the body," the DNR continued.

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According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ website, Lake Lanier, which is located in the northern part of Georgia, was constructed during the 1950s and is “authorized for flood protection, power production, water supply, navigation, recreation and fish and wildlife management.” The lake boasts over 690 miles of shoreline and 76 recreational areas and is open to activities such as “picnicking, camping, boating, swimming, hiking and fishing.”

Per the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Lake Lanier attracts over 11.8 million visitors a year.

Related: Man Survives Spending 20 Minutes Underwater After Friend Allegedly Pushed Him into Lake

Lake Lanier has seen many fatalities over the years, with some people describing it as “haunted,” according to CNN, Yahoo News and Teen Vogue. Between 1994 and October 2020, there have been 203 swimming- and boating-related deaths in Lanier, per the DNR.

Among the Lake Lanier-related deaths was 11-year-old Kile Glover, the son of Usher’s former wife, Tameka Foster. Kile was fatally struck by a jet ski while floating in an inner tube in 2012.

In May 2023, Foster started a petition on Change.org  to "drain, clean, restore and improve safety measures at Lake Lanier." She referenced Kile’s death as one of "multiple tragic incidents that have resulted in the loss of innocent lives" at the location.

Related: Man Dies After Drowning in Lake Outside SoFi Stadium: 'He Went Underwater and Did Not Resurface'

In July of that same year, Lake Lanier saw three deaths occur in about a week, USA Today reported. One of those fatalities, Thomas Milner, drowned and may have been electrocuted, authorities told the outlet.

This past October, the body of Walter Juarez Guardado was recovered from the lake after he fell out of his jet ski and went missing, per NBC affiliate WXIA.

The DNR told PEOPLE that there have been two drownings in Lake Lanier in 2024.

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