The boater who was found dead on Monday afternoon following a four-day search of the Ogeechee River in Midville, Georgia, has been identified by authorities. The Burke County Sheriff’s Office disclosed the victim’s identity on Tuesday, March 31, as 39-year-old Freddie Rachels, a Midville resident.

Reporting the tragic occurrence, deputies revealed that the local died while trying to make his way to the shores after his small boat developed leakages and filled up with water in the middle of the river.

Officers were dispatched to a slipway located on 101 S. Main St. at about 10 pm, after receiving reports of a boating accident with a possible survivor still navigating the waters.

Authorities gathered that Freddie and another boater were aboard the vessel together when it collided with a solid form offshore and began to sink as it got engulfed with water seeping through.

As the situation got out of control, the duo decided to abandon the boat and swim to the river bank.

One of the boaters made it to the shores alive, while the other remained lost in the Ogeechee River until his lifeless body was discovered four days later by search and rescue teams assigned to the case.

According to the accident reports obtained, the search continued from Thursday night, through the weekend, until the drowned victim was found at precisely 3:25 pm on Monday, March 30.

Several agencies assisted in the search operation, including the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia State Patrol, South Georgia Mounted Search and Rescue, Twin City Fire Department, Burke County EMA as well as the Burke County Dive Team.

Disclaimer: The Accident News article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.

The articles published contain sensitive subject matter that may be hard to read by some. We understand that losing a loved one is hard and devastating. Accident News’s decision to share the stories is to help others who may be facing the same situations by providing appropriate resources to the general public.

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