ROSWELL, Ga. — A search for a missing teen swimmer in the Chattahoochee River near the Azalea Park Tuesday afternoon has transitioned to recovery efforts, according to fire officials.
Cobb County officials said a group of 10 people tried to swim across the river, with only 8 making it across. One of the two people that did not make it all the way across was rescued on a rock in the river, they said.
However, the second person that did not make it across has not been located. Cobb and Roswell officials confirmed that after extensive searching in the water, they were transitioning their efforts to Recovery mode.
The drowning victim has been identified as 17-year-old Jake Watley. 11Alive’s Kaitlyn Ross spoke with his mother Nim Watley, late Wednesday morning.
Watley described her son as a very smart kid who wanted to be a businessman. He's also a trained gymnast since the age of 3 and had dreams of going national. He and 9 other boys finished gymnastics before heading to the water.
Watley said 8 of the boys were able to to make it and two others struggled.
Recovery continued Wednesday morning. Officials on the scene said the water is higher than usual and the current is strong.
