Man who died after slipping on dock at Lake Lanier identified

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - A 23-year-old man is dead after falling into Lake Lanier Saturday night.

According to Department of Natural Resources, wardens responded to a drowning call at the Holiday Marina on Lake Lanier around 10:30 p.m.

They were told that the victim was running down a dock when he slipped and fell in. He did not resurface.

His body was found in 17 feet of water by Hall County Fire Rescue.

RELATED: The dangers of swimming in Lake Lanier

He was identified on Monday morning as 23-year-old Gavrie Alexander Whitlock of Snellville.

His family and coworkers mounred his death Labor Day.

"He was always very funny, always in a good mood, kind of the life of the party, trying to you know, make light of every situation," said Barbara Chamberlain, who worked with Whitlock at Myles Wrecker Service in Lawrenceville.

She said he was ambitious and loved his job. 

"He loved his boats though, that was another passion. He was huge into the boating thing," said Chamberlain. "He spent a lot of time on the water."

This is the 8th drowning this year at Lake Lanier. 23-year-old Edgar Steven Cruz Martinez was the 7th person when he died in late August. Before that, two men died while swimming in the lake on July 31.

Holiday Marina is the oldest and one of the lake's largest floating marinas. 

How many people have died at Lake Lanier?

More than 200 people died at Lake Lanier between 1994 and 2022, according to USA Today and Georgia DNR. 

In 2018 and 2019, there were 8 drownings each. In 2020, there were 7 drownings; 4 drownings in 2021; and 6 drownings in 2022. There were 48 additional deaths (boating fatalities) for those same years.

There have been 7 drawings and 0 boating fatalities at Lake Lanier so far this year. 

Lake Lanier, which hosts several million visitors a year, was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1956. It is the largest lake in Georgia and is named after Georgia poet and musician Sidney Lanier. Its full name is Sidney Lanier Lake. 

More than 1,000 people, 20 cemeteries, 15 businesses and 6 churches were moved to make way for the lake, including the town of Oscarville, which was a predominantly Black town. 

Many people believe more than 700 people have died at Lake Lanier since it was constructed in the 1950s. Because of this, many people believe that the lake is cursed and haunted.

In July, the ex-wife of R&B singer Usher made headlines when she started an online petition to "drain, clean and restore" Lake Lanier.

Tameka Foster's 11-year-old son Kile Glover was killed after a boater struck him while he was floating in an inner tube on the lake in July 2012.

Why do so many people die at Lake Lanier?

The explanation for why so many people have died at Lake Lanier in recent years is a complicated one. First, with 7 to 11 million visitors per year, things are bound to happen. 

Additionally, the waters of Lake Lanier can be dark and murky. That makes rescues difficult if someone goes overboard or goes under. 

Another major issue is boating under the influence. According to Georgia DNR, there were more 525 BUIs between 2008 and 2018. 

And, people – especially kids – aren't wearing life jackets when they are at the lake, officials say. 

Is the Lake Lanier really haunted?

Last but not least, some people believe that there are ghosts in the water that pull swimmers and boaters under as revenge for the past. 

One of the ghosts is the Lady of the Lake.

As the story goes, two ladies were driving on Dawsonville Highway in 1958 when Susie Roberts lost control and drove into the lake near Lanier Bridge. 

The portion of the lake was 90 feet deep and the ladies simply disappeared. A year later, a fisherman found a body floating near one of the bridges. That body became known as the Lady of the Lake. In 1990, a construction crew working on a bridge expansion found the car with the remains of another woman inside – most likely Susie Roberts. 

Other ghosts hanging around the lake may be connected to the 20 cemeteries that were moved before construction of the lake begun. It's possible that the occupants of those cemeteries were angry at being disturbed and decided to haunt the lake. It's also possible that not all the graves and their occupants were moved.

NOTE: The latest victim's age was updated from 24 to 23 after positive identification was made.