At least one civilian jumped into a Norcross pond to try to save a woman whose car was quickly sinking.

The heroic effort played out during a 911 car from a witness at the scene:

“This man is going in,” says the caller. 

“Someone’s going in the lake with him?” asks the dispatcher.

“Oh, my God,” says the caller.

 “What’s going on, ma’am?” asks the dispatcher. 

“The car is underwater now, the man is going in,” says the caller.

But neither the man nor Gwinnett firefighters who arrived moments later could reach 53-year-old Laura Tavel.

The dive team from Hall County had to be brought in to recover the Duluth woman’s body before the car was pulled out.

Autopsy results reveal Tavel died from drowning, but showed no signs of trauma or catastrophic natural disease.  Toxicology results could take ten to 12 weeks.

Tavel was a veteran teacher who had worked at River Trail Middle School in Johns Creek since 2001.