MOULTRIE — A Norman Park man drowned during a relative’s birthday party Saturday night at Indian Lake.

Francisco “Thomas” Alcantara, 45, of 236 Lazy Bear Road in Norman Park, was pronounced dead at Colquitt Regional Medical Center about 3:10 a.m. Sunday. He was found at the bottom of a pool at Indian Lake Recreation Center on Cherokee Drive about 8:50 p.m. Saturday.

Colquitt County Sheriff’s Investigator Shawn Bostick said Alcantara was attending a relative’s birthday party at the recreation center and had been swimming all day Saturday. As the child’s party was winding down, Alcantara was encouraged by everyone to jump into the pool one last time, which he did as everyone else began to clean up.

As everyone cleaned for several minutes, Bostick said someone realized Alcantara had not come back out of the pool. A witness spotted him at the bottom of the pool and jumped in to pull him out.

Alcantara was given CPR until Colquitt County Emergency Medical Services arrived, Bostick said. He was then taken to Colquitt Regional and was later pronounced dead while in the intensive care unit.

Bostick said Alcantara showed no signs of distress once he jumped into the pool, but he did not come back up. There was nothing suspicious about the incident, he said.

Colquitt County Interim Coroner Kevin Wimberly said Alcantara’s body was sent to the GBI crime lab in Atlanta for an autopsy Monday. Following the autopsy, the medical examiner determined accidental drowning was the cause of death.

Harrell-Faircloth Funeral Home is handling funeral arrangements for Alcantara. For information, please see the obituaries on page 2A.