Drowning Investigation Underway At Oak Mountain State Park
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: April 2, 2012
An 18-year-old man drowned Sunday afternoon at Oak Mountain State Park. Authorities say he went under the water around 4:00 p.m.
Rescue vehicles drove into Oak Mountain State Park Sunday afternoon after authorities say a man got into trouble while spending a day with friends. Park Superintendent Michael Jeffreys says four teens took a paddle boat into the lake with no life vests. "The fourth teen got off the paddle boat in shallow water. From the wind, the paddle boat started drifting. He attempted to swim back out to the paddle boat and he could not swim. He went under."
Our camera could not get past the gate, but this is the area where the men were paddling. Jeffreys says dive teams spent hours searching, but the water has low visibility. Jeffreys says around two-hundred people were at the beach when the men yelled for help. He reminds visitors... "If you can't swim, always have a life preserver with you and take all necessary precautions and just use safety."
The victim's name has not been released. Jeffreys says there are no lifeguards on the beach, just a sign reminding people to swim with caution.
