Georgia Man Dies on Lake Hartwell Saturday

An autopsy will be performed today in Oconee County, SC on the body of a Georgia man who died on Lake Hartwell over the weekend.

It happened Saturday afternoon near the I-85 bridge and the Harbor Light Marina.

Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Officer Craig Fulgum said a group was operating a pontoon boat near the Harbor Light Marina on their way back from a weekend camping trip when one of the passengers fell overboard.

“There were four individuals on a pontoon boat,” Fulgum said. “Our victim was sitting on the front right side of the boat as they were headed towards the I-85 bridge.  He fell out of the boat and never resurfaced.”

Others on the pontoon boat tried to find the victim in the water but could not locate him and called 911.   Fulgum said the Georgia DNR, along with the Hart County Sheriff’s Department arrived within minutes.

“The incident occurred basically in the middle of the lake right between Georgia and South Carolina,” Fulgum said. “After getting the location more exactly, it was determined it actually happened in South Carolina so we notified the appropriate authorities.”

According to Fulgum the case was turned over to the South Carolina DNR, but Georgia DNR along with Oconee County EMS, Hart County EMS and Elbert County EMS teams assisted in the search.

Fulgum said divers searched until about 11p Saturday night and on Sunday morning brought in high-tech equipment to try to find the victim.

“We brought in sonar equipment from our DNR Gainesville office, along with an operator,” Fulgum said. “Within about 20 minutes we located Mr. Wolfe. We sent Oconee County, SC EMS divers down to the site and he was recovered at approximately 10:30a Sunday.”

The victim is identified as 23year old Logan U. Wolfe of Richmond Hill, GA.   Fulgum said Wolfe was found about 100 feet from where he fell into the lake in about 55 feet of water.

The SC DNR continues to investigate.