A tragic event unfolded in the waters at the Gulf State Park Pavilion in Gulf Shores on Thursday evening (June 22nd), as a Georgia man losses his life in an attempt to rescue his teenage son from drowning.

William Strozier, a 49-year-old father from Madison, Georgia, and his son found themselves in distress in the waters off Gulf Shores around 6:20 p.m. Lifeguards, upon their arrival, discovered that beachgoers had managed to get both the man and his son to the shore. Strozier was unconscious, and rescuers immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) efforts.

Despite the efforts of first responders, Strozier was pronounced dead at the South Baldwin Regional Medical Center Freestanding Emergency Department at 7:09 p.m. His son survived the incident, details about his condition have not been made public.

The tragic event took place near the Gulf State Park Pavilion, a popular location for locals and tourists alike. Witnesses reported that Strozier and his son were in the water when lifeguards arrived at the scene.

At the time of the incident, yellow flags were flying on Gulf Shores beaches, indicating moderate hazard conditions, and rip currents were present. 

This is the second drowning on the Alabama Gulf Cost in a 24-hour span. The second drowning occurred in Fort Morgan on Friday evening. Just days prior, a Texas man drowned in Orange Beach, and an Oklahoma man went missing while swimming in the Gulf of Mexico.