Cartersville Man Drowns In Gulf Of Mexico: Police

PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL — Authorities recovered the body of a 21-year-old Cartersville man Sunday afternoon from the Gulf of Mexico.

Officers with the Panama City Beach, Florida, Police Department were dispatched to a call of a "swimmer in distress" around 2:30 p.m. June 17 at the M.B. Miller County Pier at 12213 Front Beach Road, according to a press release.

According to the agency, 21-year-old Tony Orlando Jackson of Cartersville was swimming in the gulf "when he was caught by a large wave before beach goers lost sight of him.

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A search effort began, and Jackson's body was recovered two hours later about a half-mile east of the pier, police said. The body was turned over the local Medical Examiner's Office for further investigation. Panama City Beach police note red surf flags were flying at the time of the incident.

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