On Wednesday September 27, 2017 at approximately 8:16 p.m. the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a possible drowning in the 200 block of Byrd Road south of Florence.
It was reported that a large group of teens attending a function had been swimming and a 16 year old boy had gone under the water and had not resurfaced.
First Responders from Southwest Fire Department, Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, Rankin EOC and Pafford Ambulance Service Responded to the scene. Rescue equipment was brought in to search for the teen. This equipment included a boat equipped with sonar. The victim was located with the sonar and Rankin County divers went into the lake and recovered the teen’s body at approximately 10:50 p.m.
Rankin County Coroner David Ruth responded to the scene and took custody of the teen’s body. He confirmed the teen was 16-year-old Jeremy Gatlin.
The Department said accidents like this are devastating to the teenager’s family and heartbreaking for first responders. Please pray for Gods comfort for this family.
