Man drowns at Carter’s Bight Landing in Appling County

APPLING COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - [UPDATE 7/13 AT 10:15 P.M.] Appling County Sheriff Mark Melton said 50-year-old Christopher Peck tried to swim to his vessel after launching it from the landing, then went under and did not resurface.

[ORIGINAL STORY] A man died Saturday after going overboard at Carter’s Bight Landing in Surrency, confirmed the Appling County Sheriff’s Office.

Reports of a potential drowning first came in around 11:28 a.m. on July 11, according to Appling County Sheriff Mark Melton. The report said a 50-year-old man went overboard from his vessel and had not resurfaced.

At the scene, first responders secured the area and began their search. At 11:15 p.m. that night, they found the body of Christopher Michael Peck.

Departments that assisted in the recovery included the Appling County Sheriff’s Office, Appling Fire and Rescue, Appling EMA, Appling EMS, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Tattnall County Sheriff’s Office, Toombs County Dive Team, Appling County Coroner’s Office and the City of Baxley Public Works.

Melton emphasized his gratitude for the agencies involved and the citizens who provided food, water and assistance during the search.

“Without the combined efforts of so many, we would not have been able to bring this to a close as quickly as we did,” wrote Melton in a statement.