Two children drowned in what has been ruled an accidental drowning at West Point Lake.

On Sunday, deputies from the Troup County Sheriff’s Office and personnel from Troup County Fire and EMS responded to a report of a possible drowning at Earl Cook Beach at 4:17 p.m.

According to a press release from the sheriff’s department, deputies were informed by witnesses that a 12-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl had gone under the water while swimming and had not resurfaced. The children are said to have been playing on a float at that time of the accident.

First responders were unable to initially locate the children and called for additional resources. Troup County Sheriff’s Office investigators and dive team members, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the US Army Corp of Engineers and the LaGrange Police Department worked together to locate the children.

At approximately 7:30 p.m. both victims were recovered by dive team members. Both children were deceased. The county coroner was able confirm that the children died from drowning and had not received any trauma.

The sheriff’s department extended its sympathy to the family at the tragic loss.

“Our hearts go out to them, and our prayers are with them in this very difficult time in their lives,” Sheriff James Woodruff said.

The children were from the Atlanta area and were attending a family gathering at West Point Lake at the time of the accident.

 

*** Updated to reflect new information.***