A Waycross man drowned Sunday afternoon, April 6, on the Satilla River in the Yellow Bluff area, authorities said.
Malcolm O’Hara, 31, of a Waycross address, drowned in the Yellow Bluff area of the river between Okefenokee Country Club on the Pierce County side of the river and the Jamestown Landing on the Ware County side of the river, according to Pierce County Sheriff Ramsey Bennett.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was in charge of the recovery effort since the waters of the Satilla would fall under their jurisdiction, authorities said.
Sgt. Chase Altman of the DNR said the case has been deemed an “accidental drowning.” There is no evidence of foul play in the incident, he said.
O’Hara was reportedly with his brother and at least two other acquaintances enjoying a day at the river when he went under the water and did not resurface.
A search for O’Hara began immediately after the 9-1-1 call came in and continued until nightfall Sunday.
The search resumed Monday and continued until storms swept through the area in the late afternoon and early evening.
Officials resumed the search Tuesday morning, and O’Hara’s body was recovered from the river early Tuesday afternoon.
Funeral arrangements for O’Hara were pending at press time, but will be handled by Harrington Funeral Services of Waycross.
