A 27-year-old man drowned in Geneva over the weekend, during the annual Festival on the Rivers.

Authorities say even though there are several known swimming spots along the river, people should really stay away from them.

The waters are calm now at Fowler Park in Geneva after rescue crews finished searching for the body of a drown victim from this past weekend.

Joseph Paskel Williamson of Honoraville was pulled under water where the Pea River and Choctawhatchee River meet and police say it’s not a safe section of water to jump into.

Geneva Police Lt. Ricky Morgan said, "A lot of people just don't understand how dangerous these rivers are. You know, you can walk ankle foot in water and the next step you could drop off 20 feet."

At the time of the incident, Water Patrol happened to be chasing a possibly stolen boat up the Pea River.

There were witnesses on the scene, but because the junction has such strong water forces, other swimmers could not save Williamson.

"At that time, most experienced swimmers were having trouble," Lt. Morgan continued.

In the last several years, there have not been any reports of drownings in this area. Now, Geneva Police are talking about ways they can prevent it from happening again.

One way to alert the public would be to post signs, warning swimmers of possible danger.

"If we post signs up and down the river, it’s still not going to keep kids from staying out of that river," Lt. Morgan concluded.

Police say the biggest help would come from parents, by watching their kids and making sure they know that water is not just something to play in.

For more general water safety tips, visit the link below.