Two people die in drowning incidents at Lake Tobo, Amerson River Park in Macon

Two people drowned in Macon on Sunday, one in Amerson River Park and the other at Lake Tobesofkee, officials said.

The drowning at Amerson River Park occurred in the evening when a group lost track of their friend on a sandbar. Witnesses said they saw Larry Rainey Jr., 30, wading in the water near the sandbar but, after looking away briefly, lost sight of him.

After an unsuccessful search by park rangers and citizens at the park, the Macon-Bibb Fire Department searched the Ocmulgee River. The dive team recovered Rainey’s body near the rope swing along the river, according to the fire department. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 2-year-old drowned at Lake Tobesofkee the same day, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Silvestre Lucas was reported missing by his family Sunday afternoon after he drifted out of their sight. He vanished on the eastern side of Claystone Beach near the sea wall around 1:45 p.m., said DNR Sgt. Bubba Stanford.

The child was found within minutes in water about four feet deep by a park ranger. A nurse that happened to be on the beach administered CPR before EMS arrived. Lucas was taken to an Atlanta hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 2:15 p.m.