The Fourth of July turned tragic for some friends and family of a 17-year-old man today after he drowned at Lake Lanier in Forsyth County.

The 17-year-old who drowned on Lake Lanier on the Fourth of July has been identified as Aeriel Cotuc Chaudjay. He lived on Skye Terrace Lane in Duluth, but was originally from Guatemala.

The young man drowned at Little Ridge Park off of Lanier Beach South in central Forsyth County on the afternoon of July 4. Chaudjay, along with three friends and his uncle, had been wading in Lake Lanier when Chaudjay waded out deeper into the water. There was an apparent drop-off where the depth of the water went to around 15 feet. According to his friends and uncle, the victim did know how to swim. Chaudjay’s friends did not realize he was in trouble until he did not surface.

The incident occurred around 2:22 p.m. on July 4th. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol, as well as the Forsyth County Fire Department’s Dive Team, responded to the scene. The dive team recovered the victim’s body at approximately 3:05 p.m.

At this time, it is believed no alcohol or foul-play was involved. Further investigation was turned over to the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division.