Three swimmers drown in one week in Baldwin

By Melanie LeCroy / melanie@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 8/25/21

Last week, three swimmers drowned in just two days on Baldwin County beaches.

Red warning flags were flying on both days to warn of the hazardous conditions and rip currents. According to the …

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Three swimmers drown in one week in Baldwin

Posted

Last week, three swimmers drowned in just two days on Baldwin County beaches.

Red warning flags were flying on both days to warn of the hazardous conditions and rip currents. According to the National Weather Service rip currents are the top weather related killer at the beach along the northern Gulf Coast.

Two brothers visiting the area from Tennessee and Georgia were rescued by several bystanders on the beach Aug. 17 in the 1800 block of West Beach in Gulf Shores. Greg Lee of Clarksville, Tenn. told WKRG that he heard someone screaming and when he got up he saw a lady out in the water. He told his wife to call 911 and he headed into the water with several other bystanders who pulled the two men from the water. Despite lifesaving efforts, the two brothers did not survive. Their names have not been released.

Then on Aug. 20, Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a report from Baldwin County 911 at approximately 1:45 p.m. of a 19-year-old male struggling in the water 40 yards off the beach in Fort Morgan. Several agencies responded to the 911 call and were involved in the search for the missing swimmer including Fort Morgan Volunteer Fire Department, Gulf Shores lifeguards and Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department.

Helicopters and boats were used to search the water while others patrolled the beach on foot. The swimmers body was found at approximately 11:30 p.m. during a shoreline search. On Monday, Aug. 23, the Baldwin County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased swimmer as 19-year-old William Daughtery of Florence, Ala.

On both days that the drownings occurred, red flag were flying meaning there was a high hazard for dangerous surf and/or currents. When a red flag is flying, swimming in the gulf is highly discouraged.

According to the National Weather Service, there have been 172 rip current fatalities since 2002 in the beaches covered by the National Weather Service Offices in Tallahassee, FL and Mobile.

If you are swimming in an area without lifeguards, it is suggested by the Orange Beach Surf Rescue and Gulf Shores lifeguards that you check the daily surf and beach conditions by calling 251-981-SURF (7873) or subscribe to the Baldwin Beach Information alert system.

The Baldwin Beach Information is a new daily alert system was launched by Baldwin County this month. The daily report of surf conditions is delivered to a users’ cell phone by text. To subscribe to Alert Baldwin visit alertbaldwin.com and choose the alerts you wish to receive including text updates from municipalities, weather alerts and the daily beach report. To subscribe only to daily Baldwin Beach Information text the word albeaches to 888-777.