Rescue teams pulled a 27-year-old man’s body from Lake Lanier Sunday. Ramon Diaz-Soria had been missing since Saturday afternoon when he fell from a boat.

What Happened:
Diaz-Soria was boating with friends Saturday when he suddenly went under and never came back up.
• Georgia Department of Natural Resources confirms the recovery after extensive search operations
• Friends immediately jumped in to help but couldn’t locate him in the water

The Reality: The victim couldn’t swim but had on a life vest when the accident occurred, according to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.
• Search teams first found the life vest floating separately
• Sonar technology helped locate the body before dive teams made the recovery

Why It Matters: This tragedy shows how quickly water emergencies can turn deadly, even when safety gear is present. Families across Georgia face similar risks during popular lake activities.

The Bigger Picture: Lake Lanier sees multiple drowning incidents each year despite safety measures. Even experienced boaters face sudden emergencies that can overwhelm rescue efforts. Water safety experts stress that life vests alone don’t guarantee survival in all situations.

How to Read and Understand the News

Truth doesn’t bend because we dislike it.
Facts don’t vanish when they make us uncomfortable.
Events happen whether we accept them or not.

Good reporting challenges us. The press isn’t choosing sides — it’s relaying what official, verified sources say. Blaming reporters for bad news is like blaming a thermometer for a fever.

Americans have a history of misunderstanding simple things. In the 1980s, A&W rolled out a 1/3-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. It failed because too many people thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If we can botch basic math, we can certainly misread the news.

Before dismissing a story, ask yourself:

  • What evidence backs this?
  • Am I reacting to facts or feelings?
  • What would change my mind?
  • Am I just shooting the messenger?

And one more: Am I assuming bias just because I don’t like the story?

Smart news consumers seek truth, not comfort.