Tragic Loss: Woman Drowns in Lake Hartwell

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A 31-year-old woman is dead after she went missing while swimming in Lake Hartwell, according to Stephens County Chief Deputy Coroner Lee Woody.

According to the coroner’s office, a 911 call was placed around 5:20 p.m. Saturday, September 21, for a possible drowning at the jumping rock near Jenkins Ferry. First responders determined that Chelsea Cole went under while swimming to the rock about 20 feet from shore and never resurfaced, Woody says.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources game wardens and dive teams from Stephens and Oconee counties were dispatched to the scene and began searching for Cole. A sonar search was conducted. Around 8:27 p.m., DNR game wardens located Cole’s body in about 19 feet of water near where she went under, says DNR Public Affairs Officer Mark McKinnon.

Divers were able to immediately locate Cole’s body. Woody says the coroner’s office took possession of the body and will contact the GBI Crime Lab in Atlanta for an autopsy.

Cole was a resident of Stephens County.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Cole’s family during this tragic time,” says Woody, who expressed his gratitude to all of the agencies involved, including the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office and EMS, for their fast recovery efforts.