A 27-year-old man is still in the intensive care unit at Northeast Georgia Medical Center after he fell into the lake while fishing Monday morning in Lake Lanier.

Authorities originally thought he might have fallen into the water due to a cardiac arrest, but Sgt. Mike Burgamy with the Department of Natural Resources said it was later decided his problems were caused by inhaling water.

Burgamy, who responded to the incident that happened about 11:30 a.m., said the man was fishing with his father when the rear of their boat got close to the bridge piling near Lula Bridge.

“He went to push off from the bridge and fell in,” Burgamy said. “When he fell in, he inhaled water and began to struggle. Daddy jumped in to grab him, pulled him back to their boat and he called for help.”

Two women on kayaks, who Burgamy said are nurses at the medical center, helped get him in the boat and began providing first aid.

The man’s name isn’t being released pending notification of family, Burgamy said.