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Elderly man found dead from apparent drowning after shoe found floating in Lake Lanier

Jim Hansard, 76, is the second person to drown at Lake Lanier this year.

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — A Gainesville man drowned in Lake Lanier late Wednesday, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). 

Officials said Jim Hansard, 76, was last seen around lunchtime at his dock near Keith Bridge Park. A friend became concerned after spotting Hansard's golf cart still at the dock and noticed a water shoe floating nearby. 

Shortly after, around 9:30 p.m., emergency crews and investigators responded to the area. Using boat-mounted SONAR, game wardens found Hansard's body in 13 feet of water and recovered his body. It's still unclear how Hansard ended up in the water.

This marks the second drowning on Lake Lanier in 2024, the DNR said. 

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