Divers pull drowned runner’s body from water at Amerson River Park. He was 26.

Macon-Bibb County Fire Chief Marvin Riggins confirmed a drowning Friday at Amerson River Park.

The 26-year-old victim was pulled out of the water about 11:20 a.m. near the river trail, Riggins said.

“Three or four people were out running and I guess ... decided to go into the river,” Riggins said. “One of them got into trouble on the river.”

Andre J. Armstrong, of Jackson Mississippi, reportedly went under the water and never resurfaced. The dive team that recovered his body was assisted by the Georgia DNR.

The four other people with him attempted to help get him out of the water but were unable to, according to a Bibb County Sheriff’s Office news release.

“They were swimming, and he evidently was fatigued,” said Sgt. Clay Williams, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.

The Macon-Bibb Fire Department dive team was able to locate and recover the body. The victim was pronounced deceased on scene by the Bibb County Coroner’s Office

The investigation conducted by the Fire Department, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Coroner’s Office will take into consideration the strong current in the Ocmulgee River as one of the reasons the man did not resurface, Williams said.

Williams reminded people to take safety precautions whenever they are swimming at Amerson River Park because the water is deceptively deep with a strong current, he said.

People should not drink or take anything that will impair their motor skills, he said.

“If you’re going to be swimming, make sure you have some type of life saving devices with you,” he said.

The call of a person going under and not resurfacing at Amerson River Park came into the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and the Fire Department around 10:23 a.m., Williams said.

“We’re still waiting to notify next of kin before we release name and any other information,” Williams said.

This story was originally published July 31, 2020 at 12:55 PM.