A 37-year-old Florida man has gone missing on Carters Lake in North Georgia after severe storms struck late Tuesday night. Sean Cunningham was last heard from while taking shelter under a dock after struggling to paddle his green canoe against heavy winds.
The Search Underway
Multiple law enforcement agencies are now searching approximately two square miles of Carters Lake, which spans Murray and Gilmer counties. Officials are using boats, helicopters, drones, sonar equipment, and K-9 units to locate Cunningham.
Searchers have recovered his backpack near the lake, but his canoe remains missing and is believed to have sunk.
Last Known Contact
Cunningham had departed from Woodring Campground on the lake before the storms hit. He contacted a friend Tuesday night, saying he was sheltering under a dock after the weather made paddling impossible. That was the last anyone heard from him.
What Officials Are Saying
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Lt. Adam Loudermilk confirmed the search is ongoing around the clock.
“Right now, it’s still a missing person because we have no positive information that he is in the water, so we’re still looking at all different avenues to try to locate where he may be,” Loudermilk said.
Cunningham’s family has traveled to the lake and is actively working with investigators to provide details about his travel plans.
How You Can Help
Anyone with information about Sean Cunningham’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Georgia Department of Natural Resources or local law enforcement immediately.
