UPDATE: Divers Search Ocmulgee River for Drowning Victim

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Crews have temporarily called off the search for the body of a Warner Robins man who drowned Monday in the Ocmulgee River near Amerson Water Works Park.

Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones tells us the search will resume at 7:30 Tuesday morning.

A possible drowning call came into the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office around 3:30 p.m.  Lt. Sean Defoe with the sheriff’s office tells 41NBC 24-year-old Aaron Austin Cross was swimming with his friends across the river. On his way back, Cross started yelling for help.

A witness, who didn’t want to go on camera, said she saw Cross in the middle of the river calling for help. She says he was struggling in the water and his body was red.

Defoe says a friend jumped in the water to try to save Cross, but it was too late.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is using sonar equipment to search the river. Crews from DNR and the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department will work until they find the body.

Defoe says the Ocmulgee River is cold, water levels are high, and there is a strong current.

Jones says this is the second drowning in the same spot in the past year.