3 swimmers dead in Ala. surf over holiday

3 swimmers dead in Ala. surf over holiday 5/25/2008, 2:47 p.m. CDT The Associated Press

GULF SHORES, Ala. (AP) — The body of a 12-year-old New Orleans boy was recovered Sunday off Dauphin Island and a swimmer pulled from the Gulf of Mexico at Gulf Shores has died — the third death in the Alabama surf during the Memorial Day weekend.

Dauphin Island police said Eric Stegall was swimming Saturday evening with his family when he was last seen about 100 yards from shore. His father was unable to reach him because of strong currents, Police Chief George Goodwin said in a statement. The boy's body was recovered by search teams Sunday morning.

In Gulf Shores, George Burnett of Orange Beach was pulled from the water around 4 p.m. Saturday. Police said he was taken to South Baldwin Regional Medical Center by ambulance where he was pronounced dead. The cause of death was not immediately known.

This has been true this weekend on the Gulf Coast of Florida, too - yesterday at one beach there were over 40 rescues and one death.

Here on the Atlantic coast, we’ve had odd weather and lots of waterspouts.

Unless he was a superb swimmer, why was a 12 yo allowed to go 300 feet from shore in the ocean?? That’s quite a way out with the waves to try to get to him if he was in trouble. I wouldn’t let my daughters be that far out in a pond or lake! Don’t these parents think?? I know he may have been told not to go that far, but were they watching? Mine would be sitting on the beach watching everyone else have fun if I knew they wouldn’t heed my rules. Life is too precious to take chances. I’m paranoid about drowning anyway. Had an uncle who drowned when I was a child so I have a healthy respect for the dangers of water.

Red Flags were not flying on Dauphin Island the day that poor child drown. I was there and was one of the people that went in to try to save the child.
It is not your place to question this family, and their choice to go into the water. This family had been swimming together for about and hr and the current got the child quickly. It carried him away from his family before they could realize it. His father, mother, and sister tried to get him but the current was just to strong. I have been swimming these waters from a long time and when I went out it was tough on me. They are destroyed and don't need or want your critic comments. The real story here is the lack of knowledge that people have about the dangers of the ocean. The rip current that day was dangerous for an experienced swimmer, there had been 6 people pulled out of that same area in the earlier part of the day. So my question is why were the beaches left open, or why didn't the Coast Guard post a boat in the area. It was a heavy worked area all day and if they would have had a rescue boat posted close, from the Coast Guard or the rescue squad then he may have had a better chance. People who are not from a coastal town have no idea about the dangers they face. I had to tell some teens from B’ham to get out of the water at dusk. They were still surfing.... can you say “Shark”?
My heart and prayers go out to this family as they pick up the pieces of a shattered life and go back home to try to live. God Bless You!

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