U-R update

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — A 23-year-old New Jersey man visiting relatives for a bachelor’s party drowned Saturday night at Lake Sinclair, local and state authorities say.

The victim was identified as Robert Bunsa, of Basking Ridge, N.J., according to an incident report filed by Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Benjamin Forbus.

The deputy said he received a call to respond to a location on Annette Way in reference to an accidental drowning.

Forbus said he talked with Richard Walker who told him family and friends had come into town from New Jersey for a bachelor’s party.

Walker said Bunsa went into the lake and reportedly wanted to see how long he could hold his breath while underwater, according to the incident report. Forbus said Walker told him that he went back inside the residence for a short time and when he returned to the dock, Bunsa could not be found.

Walker, along with Bunsa’s brother, jumped into the lake and found Bunsa a short time later, Forbus said in his report. He was unconscious and not breathing at the time, according to the report.

He was under water for approximately seven minutes, the deputy said.

After lifting Bunsa onto a nearby dock, the men began performing CPR. One of the men also called 911.

Georgia Department of Corrections K-9 Sgt. Andrew Leyden arrived and took over performing CPR on the victim. A short time later, Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Lt. Steve McDade and Deputy Sgt. Melissa Condon arrived.

Cpl. Bubba Stanford of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division also responded to the call, as did personnel from Grady Emergency Medical Services, Forbus said.

The deputy said resuscitation efforts for the victim later were taken over by EMS personnel at the scene.

EMS personnel called for a medical helicopter to airlift the victim to an area hospital. Bunsa was taken to the Rocky Creek boat ramp to await the landing of the medical helicopter.

“Upon the arrival of the air evac, the decision was made to cease resuscitation efforts,” Forbus said in his report.

Baldwin County Deputy Coroner Foster Hurt was later called to the boat ramp where he pronounced the victim dead at 7:20 p.m.