Officers with the Panama City Beach Police Department responded to the County Pier in reference to a swimmer in distress. When officers arrived they spotted several people in distress in the water one of those who was face down.
A Panama City Beach Beach and Surf Unit with the help of local Jet Ski vendors were able to pull the man from the water and transport him to an awaiting ambulance. The swimmer was identified as Mr. Christopher Bonner, 33 from Louisiana. Mr. Bonner was transported to Bay Medical Center and died about an hour later.
A second individual who went into the water to help Mr. Bonner was also transported to the hospital with difficulty breathing and was treated and later released. The second person’s identity is not immediately available.
