River search continues for father, 4-year-old son who disappeared while fishing

The search for a father and son who disappeared while fishing along the banks of the Chattahoochee River late Wednesday afternoon has resumed, according to the Columbus Department of Fire & Emergency Services.

The 27-year-old man and his 4-year-old boy were fishing just south of the Lake Oliver Dam, north of the J.R. Allen Parkway bridge, Wednesday afternoon when witnesses saw them go under water, Columbus Fire and EMS Assistant Chief Robert Futrell said Thursday morning.

They were fishing from the riverbank on some rocks about 250 yards south of the dam, Columbus Fire and EMS Battalion Chief Bryan Watson also said Thursday morning media briefing near the river. Neither one was wearing a life jacket, Watson said.

“We believe the 4-year-old may have fell in and the father went in after him, according to some witnesses,” Watson said. “We are still searching to make sure we don’t have somebody on the band or a rock.”

The river flow was about 8,000 cubic feet per second at the time the boy fell into the river. There were two large gates and one smaller one on the Oliver Dam open to generate electrical power at that time, Watson said.

“That is a normal flow, but it is very swift,” Watson said.

The two walked through some woods to get to that stretch of the river on the Georgia side.

“They were fishing in an area where Georgia Power does allow fishing,” DNR Sgt. Jeremy Bolen said. “The were authorized to be where they were.”

Witnesses called 911 about 6:15 p.m. to report the incident. Some of those who witnessed it tried to rescue the two, but were unsuccessful, Futrell said.

The area where the two went missing is commonly referred to as Bibb Pond because of the swell in the river that is created between the two dams, one north and one south, of Bibb City.

Rescue personnel, including the Columbus Fire and EMS dive team, searched the lake until about 9 p.m.

The search, which resumed about 8 a.m. with five divers, as well as a helicopter from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Watson said. There is also a DNR boat that has side sonar in the river, Watson said.

The water is muddy and visibility is about 2 or 3 feet, Watson said.

“We have all kinds of conditions that are complicating this search,” Watson said. “We got rocks. This is a very rocky part of the river. Georgia Power has shut off generating this morning. We can’t put divers in while they are generating.”

Georgia Power officials have said they will restrict flow from the dam until about 7 p.m.

The area where the two were last seen is isolated and only rescue personnel are being allowed to that point.

Family members are keeping vigil near the search and has asked for privacy.

This story was originally published March 29, 2018 at 10:33 AM with the headline "River search continues for father, 4-year-old son who disappeared while fishing."