Thunderstorm caused turbulent water, stronger currents

Emergency crews resumed search and recovery efforts Thursday morning after two people went into the water Wednesday night at Arrowhead Mountain Lake in Georgia and did not resurface.

The Vermont State Police is leading the operation. Crews arrived on scene before 8 a.m. Thursday. The effort includes VSP’s Underwater Recovery Team and Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program. Game wardens from the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife are assisting.

Conditions on the water are challenging following strong thunderstorms overnight that caused water levels to rise and strengthened currents.

As of 10:45 a.m. Thursday, the missing individuals have not been located, state police said. The search will continue throughout the day for as long as the conditions allow.

The incident was reported at about 7:50 p.m. near the intersection of Highbridge Road, also known as Route 104A, and Arrowhead Lake Road. Initial reports indicated a group of relatives were fishing along the shore when a young girl fell into the water, and a man jumped in to try to rescue her. Neither of the individuals has been seen since.

A search is underway on the water near where the Lamoille River empties into the lake. Agencies involved include fire departments from Fairfax, Georgia and Milton; Colchester Technical Rescue; Fairfax Rescue; and multiple components of the Vermont State Police including troopers from the Field Force Division, the Underwater Recovery Team, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program, an embedded mental health crisis worker, and the Victim Services Unit.

Feature image and above photo via WCAX