One drowns, crews search for another

PHIL CAMPBELL – Franklin County rescuers have recovered the body of one of the two missing men who were thrown out of their boat Tuesday morning at the Mon Dye Bottoms and Cummings Creek area near Franklin 81 in Phil Campbell.

According to Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver, the body of Jerry Harris, 64, of the Haleyville area, was recovered about 12:30 p.m.

At press time, rescue workers were still searching for Jerry Harris’s brother, Billy Harris, 62, also of the Haleyville area.

According to Oliver, the boat was carrying the two brothers and Haleyville resident Wayne Armstrong, 67, when they encountered some trouble while on the water and all three men were thrown overboard.

“The boat didn’t completely capsize but we’re unsure at this time what happened to cause the three men to go overboard,” Oliver said.

Armstrong was able to swim to the bank where he called 911, Oliver said.

“We got the call around 11 a.m.,” Oliver added. “Mr. Armstrong was transported to Russellville Hospital with a few injuries. I think he took in a lot of water.”

Oliver said they were waiting to speak to Armstrong to get the full details of what happened to their boat.

At press time, Oliver said the search for Billy Harris would continue for as long as possible on Tuesday and resume Wednesday morning if he had still not been found.

Check www.fct.wpengine.com for updates on this story.