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On July 1, 2025 at 7:10 p.m., Troup County 911 received a call of a swimmer in distress and had possibly gone underwater at R. Shaefer Heard Park near West Point Dam. Local emergency personnel were immediately dispatched to the location including resources from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Corp of Engineers. 

Once on scene and it was confirmed that the swimmer did not resurface, recovery efforts utilizing boats and divers from the Troup County Fire Department Dive Team began. At one-point personnel had to pause operations as it became unsafe during a severe storm that was in the area. 

At approximately 10:45 p.m., the victim was recovered from the water and he has been identified as Larenz Collins, 22 years of age, of Stockbridge, Georgia. 

At this point, this appears to be a tragic swimming accident.