Leesburg man drowns in Florida

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. — A 26-year-old Leesburg man drowned early Sunday morning while vacationing here, police say.

According to Panama City Beach Police Chief Robert Harding, Kyle Patrick Galloway was swimming in the Gulf of Mexico with friends around midnight Saturday when a wave hit the trio and pulled Galloway under.

“They were about 90 to 100 feet offshore, and the three of them went into the water and got into some rough surf,” said the police chief. “Two were able to get out (of the water), one did not.”

According to a report of the incident from PCB police, Galloway was swimming with friends Raymond and Audrey Wilson when the wave hit them.

When the brother and sister made it to shore, they realized Galloway was not with them on the beach but could hear him calling for help.

PCB police said the siblings called 911 and officers from PCB police, Panama City Beach Fire Rescue and Bay Medical EMS arrived on the scene around 1 a.m. and began to search for Galloway. Searchers contacted the United States Coast Guard, which arrived around 1:30 a.m. and deployed a vessel to search for Galloway.

The Bay County Sheriff’s office was also contacted by law enforcement to request the use of the office’s helicopter, but due to weather conditions searchers were unable to use it.

Around 2 a.m., Galloway’s father was contacted with the news that his son was missing.

A Coast Guard helicopter spotted a body, that was later identified as Galloway’s, floating in the water in the area of the Aqua Vista Condos at Panama City Beach around 6:30 a.m. Sunday.

Harding said at the time Galloway was swimming single red flags were posted along the beach to warn swimmers of hazardous swimming conditions.

“There is probably going to be some alcohol involved by their own admission,” said the police chief. “We will not know for sure until the autopsy results are in.”

According to the police report, the Wilsons informed police that Galloway had consumed four or five beers and ate some food prior to swimming.

Galloway was employed at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany. The 26-year-old previously attended Lee County High School and Deerfield-Windsor School.

Galloway’s family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors, which is handling funeral arrangements.