Georgia · Forsyth County · Fatal
Lake Lanier Drowning in Forsyth County, GA: Kim Gregory Battle, 71, of Buford Died Retrieving His Hat
Witnesses said he stopped his boat near Three Sisters Island and walked to the back for a hat that had come off. Game wardens found him in 11 feet of water about two hours later.
Key facts
- What
- A drowning — a boater went into the water and did not resurface
- Where
- Lake Lanier near Three Sisters Island, Forsyth County, Georgia
- When
- Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026 — game wardens called at about 3:28 p.m.
- Killed
- Kim Gregory Battle, 71, of Buford
- Recovered
- Located at about 5:30 p.m. in 11 feet of water; brought up at 5:46 p.m.
- Responded
- Georgia DNR game wardens; deputies, firefighters and dive teams from Forsyth and Hall counties
- Cause of death
- No ruling announced
- Status
- Recovery complete; no search underway
What happened on Lake Lanier?
A 71-year-old Buford man drowned in Lake Lanier on Saturday afternoon after slipping off his boat while reaching for a hat, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said. He did not come back up.
Game wardens took a drowning call near Three Sisters Island at about 3:28 p.m., WSB-TV and FOX 5 Atlanta reported. Atlanta News First put the call at around 3:30 p.m.
Witnesses told investigators that Kim Gregory Battle was running his boat when his hat came off. He stopped the boat and walked to the back to pick it up, then slipped and went into the lake, CBS News Atlanta reported, citing DNR. FOX 5 Atlanta named the DNR public affairs officer who supplied the account as Mark McKinnon.
One account differs on how he entered the water. The Gainesville Times, citing the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, reported that the man jumped into the lake to get his hat. The DNR version carried by the television stations is that he slipped and fell from the boat.
Who was the man who died?
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources identified him as Kim Gregory Battle, 71, of Buford, WSB-TV reported. WSB-TV also described him as a Gwinnett County man.
He was operating the boat himself, according to the witness account relayed by DNR. Nothing has been released about who else was aboard.
Which county’s water was this?
Forsyth County. Both WSB-TV and FOX 5 Atlanta placed the drowning in Forsyth County, near Three Sisters Island, and the Gainesville Times attributed its account to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.
That distinction matters on this lake. Lake Lanier, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir, has a shoreline that by the Corps’ own mapping runs through Hall, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Dawson and Lumpkin counties, and deputies from two of them worked this response.
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How was he found?
With sonar. Crews ran boat-mounted SONAR and other specialized gear over the area after the call came in, FOX 5 Atlanta reported.
Wardens found Battle about 5:30 p.m., in 11 feet of water, and had him out of the lake by 5:46 p.m., WSB-TV and FOX 5 Atlanta reported. FOX 5 Atlanta and Atlanta News First said a Remote Operated Vessel was used in the recovery. Atlanta News First reported that officials found him roughly two hours after the first call.
The recovery finished Saturday evening. No search of the lake is underway in connection with this drowning.
Which agencies responded?
Georgia DNR game wardens led the response, and both counties that meet on that stretch of shoreline sent crews.
Deputies, firefighters and dive teams from Forsyth County and Hall County joined the search, Atlanta News First and CBS News Atlanta reported. CBS News Atlanta also placed the two counties’ sheriff’s offices, fire departments and dive teams at the scene.
Game wardens with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources are the state officers who handle boating incidents and drownings on Georgia lakes.
Has a cause of death been ruled?
No ruling has been announced.
FOX 5 Atlanta reported that officials had not confirmed whether Battle was wearing a life jacket when he went into the water, and that authorities had released nothing on whether alcohol or a mechanical problem played any part.
No coroner’s finding on cause or manner of death has been made public.
How many drownings has Lake Lanier had this year?
CBS News Atlanta reported that this is at least the third drowning at Lake Lanier in 2026.
The same report named Glenn Cunningham, 60, whose body was recovered in July after he disappeared in the water at Shoal Creek Campground, and Terrell Shelton, 21, who went under while swimming with friends less than a month before that.
What we don’t know yet
- The cause and manner of death, which no agency has announced.
- Whether Battle was wearing a life jacket, which FOX 5 Atlanta reported officials had not confirmed.
- Whether anyone else was on the boat with him.
- How he entered the water — DNR’s account is that he slipped and fell; the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office account, as carried by the Gainesville Times, is that he jumped in.
- Whether the Georgia DNR investigation into the incident has been closed.
- Whether a funeral or memorial has been announced by the family.
Frequently asked questions
What happened on Lake Lanier?
Kim Gregory Battle, 71, of Buford drowned near Three Sisters Island on Saturday afternoon. Witnesses told investigators he was running his boat when his hat came off, and that he stopped the boat and walked to the back to pick it up before slipping into the water, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said. Game wardens took the call at about 3:28 p.m.
Who was the man who died?
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources identified him as Kim Gregory Battle, 71, of Buford. WSB-TV described him as a Gwinnett County man.
Which county was the Lake Lanier drowning in?
Forsyth County. WSB-TV and FOX 5 Atlanta both placed the drowning in Forsyth County, near Three Sisters Island, and the Gainesville Times attributed its account to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. The lake also touches Hall, Gwinnett, Dawson and Lumpkin counties.
When was his body recovered?
Wardens found him Saturday about 5:30 p.m., in 11 feet of water, and had him out of the lake by 5:46 p.m., WSB-TV and FOX 5 Atlanta reported. FOX 5 Atlanta and Atlanta News First reported that a Remote Operated Vessel was used.
Which agencies responded?
Georgia Department of Natural Resources game wardens, the Forsyth County and Hall County sheriff’s offices, fire departments from both counties and dive teams. FOX 5 Atlanta reported that crews worked the area with boat-mounted SONAR and other specialized equipment.
Is a search still underway on Lake Lanier?
No. Battle was found and brought out of the water on Saturday evening. Atlanta News First reported that officials found his body about two hours after game wardens were called.
Has a cause of death been ruled?
No ruling has been announced. FOX 5 Atlanta reported that officials had not confirmed whether Battle was wearing a life jacket, and that authorities had released nothing on whether alcohol or a mechanical problem played any part.
Do the accounts of how he went into the water agree?
Not entirely. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources account, carried by Atlanta News First, WSB-TV, FOX 5 Atlanta and CBS News Atlanta, has Battle slipping and falling from the boat. The Gainesville Times, citing the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, reported that he jumped into the lake to get his hat.
How many drownings has Lake Lanier had this year?
CBS News Atlanta reported that this is at least the third drowning at the lake in 2026. It named Glenn Cunningham, 60, whose body was recovered in July at Shoal Creek Campground, and Terrell Shelton, 21, who went under while swimming with friends less than a month before that.
Sources
- Atlanta News First — 71-year-old man dies after slipping off boat, drowning in Lake Lanier
- WSB-TV — Man slips off boat trying to grab hat. He never resurfaced from Lake Lanier
- FOX 5 Atlanta — Buford man dies in Lake Lanier after slipping off boat for lost hat
- CBS News Atlanta — Buford man drowns in Lake Lanier after falling off boat while trying to get hat, officials say
- Gainesville Times — 71-year-old Buford man drowns in Lake Lanier after trying to retrieve hat
Compiled by The Local Alert Georgia Staff from the named news outlets linked above and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources statements they carry. The Local Alert is not a law enforcement agency and not a law firm. No cause or manner of death has been determined. Corrections and removal requests: see our corrections policy.
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