UPDATE:

The Georgia teenager who drowned Saturday evening has been identified as 19-year old Ricardo Perez of Rome.

Reports indicate the teen was attempting to swim across Little River with some friends when he went under near Martha’s Falls and didn’t resurface.

Others along the river called 911.

Perez’s body was recovered about an hour later at around 9 p.m. in about 9-feet of water.

The Fischer Rescue Squad responded to the scene.

The Cherokee County Rescue Squad was also called in to assist at around 8:30 p.m.

Little River Canyon Superintendent Gail Bishop said this is the first drowning incident in 2013, although there have been four additional rescues along the river this year.

The National Park Service warns people not to cross Little River because of the underlying force of water currents generated by movement down rocky falls and ledges.

(File Photo from the National Park Service)