Kayaker Missing in Norris Lake

Rescuers are searching for a man believed to have drowned in Norris Lake in Snellville.

The 46-year-old man, who fire officials are not identifying at this time, took a kayak out on the lake and capsized about noon, said Lt. Eric Eberly, of Gwinnett County Fire and Rescue. The man is part of a crew working on completing a boat deck for homeowners in the 700 block of Lake Drive.

Co-workers said the man usually used his work breaks to kayak in Norris Lake, but this time he ran into trouble.

"He didn't know how to swim and didn't have a life jacket," Eberly said.

Fire officials were dispatched to the location about 12:11 p.m. When they arrived to the lake, Eberly said "we found several people out in canoes trying to make a rescue."

By 4:30, fire officials said they had tried three times to rescue the lost man. Rescuers will attempt a fourth time before ending the search for the day.

Gwinnett and DeKalb county rescuers, including a swift water team and divers were looking for the man in waters up to 25 feet in depth and temperatures of about 40 degrees.  

One diver experienced slight hypothermia, but that diver is expected to recover.