Man visiting for Florida-Georgia game drowns in pond

Police say man sprinting to hotel in rain fell into pond and could not swim

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man visiting from Virginia for the Florida-Georgia game drowned in a pond after partying late Friday night, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

Ottice Hamer was at the Jacksonville Landing with friends until closing.  They went to the Waffle House off Interstate  95 and J. Turner Butler Boulevard, then sprinted to their nearby hotel on Lenoir Avenue in heavy rain.

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"It appears the victim inadvertently ran into the pond and could not swim," according to a JSO news release.

His friends could not swim and they called for help.

The victim went under and was not recovered until police divers pulled him from the pond.

On Monday, police released his name and said he was visiting from Hampton, Va.