16-year-old dies after Labor Day drowning at Pointes West

APPLING, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – It’s a tragic turn of events this Labor Day.

A 16-year-old male drowned at Pointes West Army Resort, according to Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

On Monday, around 3:30 p.m., divers recovered the teen after he was reported missing.

According to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Sevonn Small was identified as the victim.

Around 2 p.m., Georgia Game Wardens responded to a possible drowning near Pointes West Army Resort on Clarks Hill Lake in Columbia County.

Witnesses told officials Small, along with several family members, were wading out on a sandbar when a woman in the water started yelling for help.

Investigators say someone pulled the woman and her boyfriend out of the water and brought them to shore.

Officials say another juvenile was found a short time later, and EMS administered aid to her. Her condition is unknown.

DNR says Small’s mother began yelling that he was still in the water.

“It was just the fact of standing there and me being a mother of two I can only imagine what was going through the head of the mother. Just sitting there, waiting. It was just a gut-wrenching horrible feeling,” said an anonymous bystander. “It kind of killed my vibe just thinking about the family and my prayers go out to the mom and the family, and I’m praying at that the daughter they did rescue that she’s okay.”

Search efforts began with a Department of Natural Resources patrol vessel, utilizing boat-mounted sonar, along with the Columbia County Fire/Rescue Dive Team.

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