Troup County, GA – July 5, 2025 — A devastating incident has once again cast a shadow over West Point Lake, as 21-year-old Marquis Rice of Forsyth, Georgia, lost his life in a tragic drowning accident Saturday evening. This marks the second drowning at the lake in less than a week, intensifying growing concerns over safety and raising renewed calls for vigilance around open water areas.

At approximately 8:50 PM, Troup County 911 received an emergency call reporting a swimmer who had gone under the water near Horace King Park, just off Roanoke Road. Witnesses at the scene say that Marquis had been swimming with friends when he suddenly began to struggle and then disappeared beneath the surface.

First responders from multiple agencies—including the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Troup County Sheriff’s Office—quickly converged on the scene. With daylight rapidly fading, rescue personnel wasted no time in initiating a coordinated search effort. The Troup County Fire Department Dive Team was deployed to the area, focusing their search in the waters near where Marquis was last seen.

At approximately 10:14 PM, dive team members recovered Marquis’s body from the water. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have indicated that all evidence at this time points to a tragic swimming accident, with no signs of foul play.

The loss of Marquis Rice, a young man just beginning his adult life, has left his family, friends, and community in deep mourning. Described by those who knew him as full of promise, warmth, and potential, Marquis’s death is not only a personal loss but a communal tragedy that has touched the hearts of many across Georgia.

“This is an unimaginable loss for this young man’s family,” said one local responder. “Anytime a life is lost, especially someone so young, it affects us all. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Rice family.”

This incident comes only days after another drowning claimed a life at the same lake, underscoring the urgent need for increased awareness about water safety. West Point Lake, while a beloved recreation destination, is also known for its variable depths, strong underwater currents, and sudden drop-offs—factors that can be perilous even for experienced swimmers.

Officials are now urging residents and visitors alike to take extra precautions while swimming or boating on the lake, especially during the busy summer months. These precautions include wearing life jackets, avoiding alcohol near the water, swimming with a buddy, and closely monitoring weather and lake conditions.

While no additional information is available at this time, the community is already beginning to plan ways to honor Marquis’s life. Vigils, memorials, and messages of support have begun to appear online and throughout Forsyth, where he grew up and where his loss is most deeply felt.

As Troup County mourns yet another life lost to the lake’s waters, the name Marquis Rice will be remembered not only for the tragedy that ended his life, but for the young man he was—one whose smile, spirit, and story will not be forgotten.