Oak Mountain State Park Drowning

- Anything having to do with man made lakes. At Oak Mountain State Park it is considered a "beach".

- Boats.

- Whenever I see swim/scuba gear

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I was in Middle School at the time of this tragic event. My friend Nadia and I had always gone to Oak Mountain State Park for her families frequent..Persian Parties. I was a guest but they treated me like family. It was fun and we would meet new people there. Hanging out on the beach. We would walk up and down the nature trails. This particular day we rode our bikes around the park. The idea that we should rent paddle boats struck us and we intended to do just that. Standing in line we met another family. Two young sisters and their older brother were ahead of us. A conversation arose and we all started to speak to another about why we were all at the park and where we went to school. The conversation lasted about an hour or two before we gave up waiting. We were all so distracted with concersation. They were so sweet and everything went wonderfully.

We had all planned to hangout sometime soon within that day. The family went on to get their paddle boats and Nadia and I settled down at a park bench to eat. Later on we hear fire trucks and police sirens racing up the mountain and enter into the beach. We rode our bikes to the edge of the shore line and looked out. One of the sisters was standing in her boat looking down into the water. Another was trying to swim back to the boat. The brother was no where in sight. They returned to shore minutes after and began the man hunt. The park was closed for the rest of the evening. We went home, and the police department found his body the next day. This event changed my life forever. I remember the smile across his face and there's. We all left with empty faces. Triggers are sometimes ones that stay with us for the rest of our lives. This day was in 2012 and his name was Lamemphis. I wont forget him or his family.