Dominic Smithers
Harrowing bodycam footage has been released following Ryan Mallett's death.
The former NFL quarterback tragically died after drowning while swimming in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday (27 June).
According to reports, Mallett - who used to play for the New England Patriots, Houston Texans, and Baltimore Ravens - came into difficulty when he tried to swim to a second sandbar about 150 feet from the beach near Gulf Shores Drive around 2.15pm.
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After seeing him in trouble, lifeguards raced over to rescue him when he went under the water, but Mallett wasn’t breathing when he was pulled out.
Now, bodycam footage from an officer who attended the scene has been released.
In the short clip, the cop can be seen running toward the scene, with crowds of people watching on.
“I think they got him on the board now,” the officer is told by a colleague.
Sadly, Mallett was later pronounced dead at hospital.
In a statement, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said it was a devastating incident.
“The tragic loss of life, it’s always difficult when we lose a tourist or resident here, but we have no indication here of any dangerous conditions out there,” Sheriff Eric Aden said yesterday (28 June).
“The entire Okaloosa County, as well as Destin, we’re not under red flags or double red flags despite some of the misperceptions out there.
“We were under a yellow flag, which is just swim with caution. It just seems to be a tragic accident and not something to do with the conditions of the surf or tides or currents.”
One of Mallett's former coaches, Lloyd Carr, shared his own tribute.
He said: “He lived with great enthusiasm and he could really throw the ball with incredible arm strength.
“By the time he was a senior at Arkansas, he was physically mature. You don’t see many guys like him.”
The New England Patriots also offered some words about its former player after news of his death emerged, saying in a statement: "The New England Patriots are deeply saddened to learn of the sudden and unexpected passing of former quarterback Ryan Mallett.
"Our thoughts are with the Mallett family, his former teammates and all who are mourning his loss."
The Baltimore Ravens also shared kind words about Mallett in the wake of his death, describing him as a 'tremendous person and a loyal team-mate'.
"He had an infectious personality, and throughout his time as a Raven, Ryan's charisma and joy for being around the team were consistently on display," the team added.