UPDATE: Deputies identify man who drowned in Ocmulgee River while attempting to rescue children

33-year-old Billy Scott Carter was pronounced dead at the scene. All children were unharmed.

UPDATE (9:45 p.m.) – Bibb County deputies reported a second drowning in the Ocmulgee River Friday night.

UPDATE (4:15 p.m.) – Bibb County deputies identified the man who drowned on Friday as 33-year-old Billy Scott Carter. His family has been notified.

ORIGINAL STORY (3:12 p.m.):

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A 33-year-old man drowned in the Ocmulgee River on Friday afternoon while attempting to rescue children, according to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies say they responded to Ocmulgee River Riverwalk, west of Spring Street near the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail, just after 12:15 p.m. following a report of a possible drowning. The Macon-Bibb County Fire Department and Georgia Department of Natural Resources also responded.

Witnesses reported that the man and children were swimming in the river when some of the children began to struggle. The man swam out to help the children reach safety, but he went missing.

The Macon-Bibb County Fire Department located the man, whose identity has not been released, just before 1:30 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Coroner Luanne Stone.

All the children involved are accounted for and are unharmed, deputies said.

Anyone with additional information is urged to call the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at (478) 751-7500.