67-Year-Old Volunteer Drowns Near Tuscaloosa County Campground

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit says a 67-year-old man accidentally drowned in the Black Warrior River at the Burchfield Branch Park Friday afternoon in Adger.

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Captain Jack Kennedy, the commander of the multi-agency unit that investigates all unnatural deaths in the metro area, identified volunteer camp host William “Barny” McWilliam as the victim.

"This appears to be a tragic accidental drowning," Kennedy said Friday afternoon. "Subjects were attempting to launch a boat from the landing at the park when their boat drifted away. One of the boat owners then swam to the boat in an attempt to recover it, but was unable to climb up inside the boat and began drifting along-side of the boat."

It was at this point, Kennedy said, that McWilliam observed the boat and man in the river, then entered the water himself in an attempt to swim to the boat to assist.

"McWilliam became distressed in the water and went under the water," Kennedy said. "McWilliam was retrieved by family and carried to shore where life-saving attempts were performed by Corps of Engineers Park Rangers, soon followed by Antioch Volunteers Fire Department, Brookwood Police, and Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Deputy/Paramedics. Unfortunately, all life saving efforts failed."

Kennedy went on to say that McWilliam’s family has asked for privacy, but expressed their gratitude for the responding agencies and volunteers.

"The family also wanted it known that Mr. McWilliam enjoyed volunteering at the park because of penchant for helping people," Kennedy said. "His wife stated he was an Eagle Scout as a teenager, and his entire life was spent looking for ways to help others, and it was not surprising that he would put his life at risk to help someone he didn’t know."

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