A fun family outing at Sardis Lake turned tragic for one Oxford man’s family.
According to Investigator Mark Whitten of the Panola County Sheriff’s Department, Jasman Burse, 21, of Oxford drowned at a beach on the lower lake.
"He was out with his family and friends to have a good time and something this terrible took place," he said of the death.
Whitten said reports indicate Burse and a family member decided to swim out to the buoys.
"The trip out didn’t create a problem, but something went wrong on the return trip to the beach," he said.
Whitten said witnesses told deputies at the scene that the body was only under water for a short period of time before being pulled out by a friend or family member.
"Attempts to revive Burse were made by the Panola County Sheriff’s Department, Emergystat, the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers," he said.
The body was transported to Tri-Lakes Medical Center where Burse was pronounced dead.
Whitten said this is the only known incident that took place over the holiday weekend.
"Besides the one drowning, it was a pretty quiet Fourth of July for us," he said.
