Batesville, Arkansas – The identity of a man who tragically lost his life to drowning in the White River near Lock and Dam 1 on Friday evening has been disclosed by the authorities.
Independence County Sheriff Shawn Stephens revealed that the deceased individual was Eric Edwards, a 47-year-old resident of Jacksonville. Edwards met his unfortunate end while courageously trying to save his son, who had accidentally fallen into the river from a boat. Another individual present at the scene managed to secure the child, pulling him to safety. However, Edwards did not resurface after his brave attempt. His body was eventually recovered an hour subsequent to the incident.
The rescue operation mobilized several local agencies, including Vital Link EMS, the Batesville Police Department, the Independence County Sheriff’s Department, and the Batesville Fire Department, all of whom were involved in the search for Edwards.
