Fisherman falls from boat and drowns after seat becomes unbolted on lake, police say
A 73-year-old man died in a freak accident while fishing with his wife on a popular Georgia lake, police say.
Game wardens were called Wednesday, May 29, about a possible drowning near Lanier Point on Lake Lanier in Hall County, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Hall County deputies and fire officials also responded.
Matthew Mayo, 73, of Gainesville was fishing with his wife when a seat on their bass boat became loose, Georgia DNR officials said in a news release.
As Mayo went to sit, the seat became unbolted and he fell into the lake. He never resurfaced, authorities said.
Using a boat equipped with SONAR, game wardens found Mayo’s body in about six feet of water, authorities said. Fire rescue crews used a remote vessel to pull him from the lake.
Hall County is about a 60-mile drive northeast from downtown Atlanta.
This story was originally published May 30, 2024 at 4:16 PM with the headline "Fisherman falls from boat and drowns after seat becomes unbolted on lake, police say."