The Lake Lanier swimmer who went missing — but didn't know he was being looked for — has been found.

On Monday, 21-year-old Zachary Rutledge went to Burton Mill Park with friends. Rutledge dove into Lake Lanier and swam out to a small island located inside the body of water at the Georgia park.

According to 'PEOPLE,' the swimmer's friends were not sure where he had gone by the end of the night. They looked for him, but ultimately concluded that he must have gone home.

When Rutledge finally returned to shore, his friends were nowhere to be found. He also did not have a cellphone. With no other choice, he spent the night in the park.

Lake Lanier
Lake Lanier Getty Images
(Photo: Getty Images)

A press release from Hall County Sheriff's Office reported how the swimmer "flagged down a Hall County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) deputy patrolling the park just before 9 a.m. Tuesday. HCSO deputies were called to the park around 8:30 p.m. by friends of Mr. Rutledge when they lost track of him while they were swimming in the lake. At the time, they were unsure if Mr. Rutledge was in the water or if he had left the park on foot."

Helicopters were dispatched to look for Rutledge — who did notice the helicopters, but, safe in the park, did not realize that the helicopters were looking for him.

"Both the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Hall County Fire Rescue conducted water searches in the area," the press release said. "The Georgia State Patrol conducted aerial searches with negative results."

The press release went on to explain that Rutledge had been found and used the incident as an opportunity to remind the public about park safety.

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"While this incident had a positive outcome, it serves as a good reminder to be cautious while swimming in Lake Lanier," the release continued. "That includes not swimming alone, communicating clearly with fellow swimmers and keeping track of those who may be in your group. The Hall County Sheriff's Office is thankful Mr. Rutledge is safe!"