Oak Mountain State Park Drownings Spark Safety Debate

0:00Troubles brewing at Oak Mountain State Park in Alabama, one of the state's top spots for outdoor fun. At least nine people have drowned there since 2012, and the latest hit hard, a three-year-old kid went under at the public beach this past Thursday. Recent cases paint a grim picture, a 21-year-old in 2023, another man this year, and a 53-year-old earlier in 20. 25. These aren't isolated, they span kids to grown folks, pointing to real dangers in that open water. Folks are fed up online, saying there have been too many losses for decades. They're pushing for lifeguards on duty. Mandatory lifejack is for children, and warnings about those steep underwater drop-offs that catch swimmers. Offguard. Park leaders dodged interview requests, but did share their running a free life vest loner program right at the beach. They marked the swimming zone with ropes and bullies to keep things safer. This pattern has everyone asking if current setups cut it for such a busy spot time. To level up before more families pay the price.

1:01Birmingham News today, powered by AI bringing you what matters. I'm Corey with The Story.