Teen Goes For A Swim In River, Turns Around, Dies Right After He Noticed What Was Feet Away
By Dreamer
The family of a 19-year-old teen is heartbroken and now have to mourn after he chose to go for swim in a local river. Sadly, it wasn’t until he attempted to take a swim to a nearby rock around the waterway that he looked back to see what was just a few feet away – and that's when he was killed.
Preston Johnston (left) and a stock image for visual representation (background) (Photo Credit: Family released photo via News ABC 13, Pexels)
This tragic story all began when Preston Johnston, 19, chose to swim in the Rocky Broad River in Rutherford County. During the time of this incident, he was accompanied by his family and friends at the time, and a couple of 10 and 12 year old boys, who wanted to go too.
“Richard Johnston, Preston’s father, told News 13 that twins Brian & Ryan Oaks, and their older brother Joseph, went to the river with Preston on Friday afternoon,” News ABC 13 reports. After the teen said that it was alright if they came along with him, things would quickly turn into chaos as the group decided to swim a little further out to a rock in the middle of the river.
Although things started off just fine, it wasn’t long until two 12-year-old twin brothers, Brian and Ryan, started having trouble. In all, the boys weren’t able to keep afloat in the strong current which prompted Preston to spring into action after witnessing what was happening just a few feet away.
After looking back to see the stressful situation, the teen quickly rushed to help the two kids to get back to safety. Without hesitation, Preston dove into the water and swam over to Brian and quickly shoved him up onto a large rock in the middle of the river.
Knowing there was one more struggling boy, he then turned to do the same for Ryan – but that’s when tragedy struck. As it turns out, he was able to successfully help the 2nd boy to safety but was swept under the water by the strong current and was unable to resurface.
Come to find out, Preston was too worn out from the current and dragging the boys to safety to save himself as well. First responders quickly rushed out to find Preston, but they arrived too late and found his body in the river pinned underneath a rock.
Richard Johnston said rescue crews finally found his son’s body around 8 p.m., nearly two hours after the search began. The young man’s body was wedged underneath the rock.
His father said the fast current and muddy water hindered their efforts. [Source: Fox News]
“Right now that’s the only thing helping me hold on… is knowing that he saved their lives,” said Preston’s father, Richard. His mother, Tammy Wellman, added, “Preston loved these kids.” As John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
Such bravery is a rare thing these days, but it’s a shame that it had to end the way that it did. Despite Preston losing his life in the process, I doubt that he would have done anything differently if he had to face the same situation again. Not all heroes wear capes – and there are two boys alive today that can attest to that.
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