Photo by Jessica McGowan/Getty Images
A 74-year-old man died at Lake Lanier after his seat became unbolted from the boat’s floor.
WSB-TV reports that Matthew Mayo was fishing with his wife on Wednesday, May 29, when he fell overboard.
The couple were in a bass boat at Lanier Point when Mayo toppled over into the water and didn’t resurface. The elderly man’s body was later found by Game Wardens, also known as conservation rangers. They are tasked with monitoring and protecting humans, animals, and natural resources in the area.
The Wardens used a boat mounted with SONAR to locate Matthew’s body. Mayo’s corpse was found in six feet of water. The Hall County Fire Recuse recovered the body with a remote vehicle.
There have been several deaths at the lake, and many refer to it as haunted.
Gavrie Alexander Whitlock fell into the lake on September 2023 after running down a dock. Like Mayo, he never resurfaced. The 23-year-old was later found deceased in 17 feet of water.
The son of Usher’s ex-wife, Tameka Foster, passed away in July 2012 after a boating accident at that same lake. He opened up about the incident in an interview earlier this year.
Under The Shade Room’s social media report, Roomies gave their take on the tragic incident.
Some commenters thought the way Mayo died was eerie.
@zombich wrote, “how TF did his seat become unbolted from the boat omfg. That’s just too strange considering the location.”
“Can they please just let that water out. It should be turned into a memorial for all them innocent souls they took out… build a beautiful garden with beautiful flowers,” @thestorytellerpoetess said.
In 2021, The Shade Room’s Justin Carter dug into the lake’s true history and haunted theories. Check it out below.
If you plan to travel to the new water slide at Lake Lanier, you may want to proceed with caution, chile!
