Deputies identify 28-year-old Raleigh man who drowned at Falls Lake

The Wake County Sheriff's Office said the man is Kenneth Jerome Harris from Raleigh.

On Saturday night, deputies were called for a reported drowning at Falls Lake at the Holly Point Campground on New Light Road in Wake Forest. Deputies said Harris was on the lake hanging out with a group of friends. He jumped into the water voluntarily, even though he could not swim, authorities said.

Deputies said weather conditions and low visibility underwater hampered recovery efforts during the search.

The drowning was ruled accidental, according to deputies.

Saturday's drowning was the third at Lake Falls this year. Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker said those who come to Falls Lake often need to be cautious.

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Under the lake's surface, Baker warned the water can be dangerous.

"It's different in the water," described Baker. "Those currents and the water gets to move in on its own."

Carlos Rivas, who spent Sunday at Falls Lake, said visitors need to pay attention.

"It's not like a swimming pool. The lake, you walk in and then it just drops and that's what makes it dangerous," said Rivas.

Baker said new technology from Lee County helped find Harris' body.

"A robot goes down. Once I get a location, they'll send that robot out and it has the capability of latching onto the target and the subject and bringing it back up," said Baker.

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The search continued into Sunday evening when new technology from Lee County helped find Harris’ body

While the search may be over, a family is still grieving after a day at the lake turned into tragedy.

"It's a lot on the deputies, the firemen and a lot on the family too," said Rivas.