GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. -- A man pulled from the waters of the Chattahoochee River after jumping from an old bridge has died.
According to Tommy Rutledge with the Gwinnett Fire Department, first responders found the 21-year-old victim during a rescue operation on the river at Settles Bridge Road in Suwanee, Georgia on Wednesday evening.
The man was at the river with two friends and was jumping into the water from the old bridge structure, Rutledge said.
After he jumped in, friends said the victim resurfaced and appeared to be in distress. One of the friends jumped into the water and found the victim but was unable to help the struggling man. The other friend called 911.
After a brief search, the man was found 2 feet underwater caught on tree debris. He was rushed to Emory Johns Creek Hospital as rescue workers performed CPR and attempted to keep him alive. Fire officials now confirm that he died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
No one was wearing life jackets at the time of the incident, Rutledge said.
It's the latest tragedy to strike at the old bridge structure - and not the only drowning in recent months. In late July, 11Alive reported on the death of 17-year-old Perez G. Tamfu of Lawrenceville, Georgia who also jumped and died.
Despite several deaths, there are no barriers to prevent access to the structure nor are there warning signs. Meanwhile, who exactly is responsible for the bridge is unclear as well - though the Georgia Department of Transportation said that they no longer own it.
So while it is illegal to jump from the bridge, authorities can't say who is responsible for enforcing the law.
