GAINESVILLE, Ga. — A 9-year-old child and a parent have been taken to the hospital in what state authorities described as critical condition after a near drowning on Lake Lanier.
Hall County Fire Services reports they were called to Margaritaville at Lanier Islands to reports of a child drowning around 2:30 p.m. They arrived to find a child and a 30-year-old father who had already been recovered from the water by lifeguards.
Witnesses said the father noticed his son had not surfaced so he went in to find the child. That's when the father then went underwater. Both lifeguards and bystanders rushed to the child's aid. The father was then found and pulled from the water as well.
They were both taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Georgia for treatment. The child is now being taken to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for further treatment.
Though initially reported as unresponsive, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said they were both resuscitated and had heartbeats. However, they are both listed in critical condition.
Fire officials said they intend to release more information as it becomes available.
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