By Gary Lloyd
A Trussville teenager who drowned in the Cahaba River on Thursday evening has been identified.
Authorities identified the victim as 17-year-old Brock Bowman, of Trussville. Bowman was listed on the Hewitt-Trussville varsity football team’s roster for the upcoming season as a junior offensive lineman.
Trussville police and Trussville Fire and Rescue personnel responded to the scene of the drowning, just north of the Happy Hollow Road bridge in Trussville, at about 5:50 p.m.
Trussville Fire Chief Russell Ledbetter said five males were inner tubing in the river.
Trussville Police Chief Don Sivley said the males were inner tubing, went over the rapids and one of the males went under the water.
He was trapped under some rocks for 40 to 45 minutes, Sivley said.
Sivley said a male behind Bowman also got caught on the rocks. Friends were able to pull him free. They tried to pull Bowman free, but weren’t able to because of the swift currents. At least one male ran down to seek help, sources said. Others were heard shouting for help from a motorist passing by.
An outpouring of prayers began to show up on Twitter shortly after the news of the accident.
First Baptist Church Trussville posted on Twitter that its high school worship space is open tonight for those who wanted to come pray for the family.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
Brock Bowman
photo courtesy of Principle Portrait Group
