Decatur man drowns trying to save girlfriend in Gulf
Sign with flag meanings (Panama City Beach Police Dept.)
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WDEF) — A Decatur, Tennessee man has died from a drowning in Panama City Beach.
News outlets in the area cite a press release from the sheriff’s office which identified the man.
Decatur native, 47-year-old Christopher Bell died on Thursday. Reports indicate he was trying to save his girlfriend from drowning.
The beach had double red flags at the time, meaning it was illegal to get in the water.
The press release states when officers arrived, they found lifeguards pulling Bell’s girlfriend out of the water. It continued that others on the beach noticed his body floating and pulled him out of the water.
The Panama City News Herald says this is the fourth drowning incident in the Gulf of Mexico in the past week.
Officials close the waters to the public during double red flags because of dangerous rip currents. Beach-goers can be fined $500 for getting in the water during double red flags.
(Bay County Sheriff’s Office)
