Body of man found who drowned in Neuse River’s ‘Raleigh Beach.’ 2nd drowning this week.
A body was recovered Wednesday after a 10-hour search for a man who vanished Tuesday in the Neuse River, the second drowning in the river this week.
Witnesses had reported the possible drowning near the Neuse River Greenway Trail and Loch Raven Parkway at 11:30 a.m., according to the Wake County Sheriff’s Office.
The search was suspended because of the weather Tuesday night but resumed early Wednesday, and the body was found at 11:20 a.m. The man was identified as George Warren Williams, 59, according to the sheriff’s office on Thursday.
“The Wake County Sheriff’s Office sends our deepest condolences to the victim’s loved ones,” Sheriff Willie Rowe said in a news release. “As more residents find relief from the heat in our county rivers and lakes, our office is collaborating with local agencies on increased awareness and education.”
Three other people have drowned near the Milburnie Dam river access, sometimes called “Raleigh Beach,” so far this year, including 32-year-old Jose Manuel Ramirez, who drowned on Sunday.
Raleigh limiting river access
The city of Raleigh has seven access points along the Neuse River, including the Milburnie Dam river access.
On Tuesday, the city limited the dam access to city staff and first responders until it can meet with “Wake County and other partners to look at what next steps can possibly be done,” said Julia Milstead, public information officer for the city.
“This, obviously, has been concerning and our thoughts go out to the families and friends of the victims,” she said.
The area has seen recent heavy rains, which can make creeks and the Neuse River more dangerous, she said.
“There are steep drops into areas where the current has made the river deep. It can be challenging to be in the river, regardless of swimming abilities,” Milstead said.
Multiple signs, in English and Spanish, list safety measures people should take near and in the water at the river access.
“As with anything, we are evaluating if and how things can be improved,” Milstead said.
Lack of life guards
There have been at least 10 drownings in the Triangle since April, most of them in rivers or lakes. One has occurred at a home pool.
People need to understand the risks of swimming in natural bodies of water, including visibility, drops in depth, waves and currents, said Kris Anne Bonifacio, public information officer for the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.
“We emphasize the use of life jackets and make them available for loan at many sites,” she said. “We also must depend upon visitors to use their own best judgment, such as whether or not they know how to swim, swimming only in designated areas, not swimming alone, and monitoring those in their party closely, particularly children.”
The state aims to provide at least one designated swimming area at each state park, meaning the area is roped off and there are no underwater hazards. Lifeguards are also hired seasonally for most state parks.
However, that’s not the case for every location.
“Our reservoirs are the main exception because we have numerous swimming areas at each reservoir and do not have the capacity to hire and train that many lifeguards to make sure each one is staffed and covered,” Bonifacio said.
That includes Jordan Lake, Falls Lake and Kerr Lake. Two of this summer’s drownings have occurred at Jordan Lake and another at Falls Lake.
“We generally do not have designated swimming areas along rivers because of the unpredictability of the river current,” Bonifacio said.
This story was originally published July 23, 2024 at 1:50 PM.
