BERRIEN COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - Over the weekend, a 27-year-old man died while visiting the Alapaha River.

According to the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), deputies were dispatched to the Alapaha River located at the Berrien and Atkinson County line at the bridge landing off Highway 135 in reference to a drowning.

Upon arrival, deputies spoke with the brother of the drowning victim. The victim was identified as 27-year-old Chris David Garcia of Douglas, Georgia.

According to the brother, they were walking in the water when Garcia slipped into a drop-off in the deeper water.

Efforts were made by his brother and other bystanders to save Garcia, but they were unsuccessful.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Coffee County Dive Team, and BCSO performed recovery efforts. Garcia’s body was recovered around 9 p.m. that night.

Berrien County Sheriff Ray Paulk said, “We encourage anyone who is visiting our rivers to use extreme caution, just a minor mishap and it could be deadly.”

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