Hundreds are mourning the death of a beloved Florida pastor who passed away as the result of a tragic drowning shortly after being rescued from a lake.
Shawn Thomas, a former youth pastor who was recently appointed to lead Galilee Missionary Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, was rescued by Seminole Fire Rescue on Friday at around 2:17 p.m. First responders arrived at Lake Seminole regarding a call about a capsized boat with two occupants on board. They were able to bring Thomas and his friend to shore safely. A few hours later, Pastor Thomas phoned another friend, Joe Wright, and asked if he could come to help him retrieve his boat from the water. When Wright arrived, the two men went out into the lake. Once returning to his disabled vessel, Thomas tied a rope between the boats. However, things took a turn for the worse when Thomas’s boat flipped over and dragged him into the water.
Wright tried to save his friend, but his boat propeller became stuck, which prevented him from getting closer to Thomas. Once Wright freed the rotor, Thomas was under the water. Calls began to pour in at around 5:42 p.m. about a man drowning in the lake. A massive search effort took place, and sadly, the 39-year-old’s body was located at 9:47 p.m. that night.
Tributes from fellow pastors, worshippers, and friends poured in for the cherished community leader, who was passionate about the city of St. Petersburg youth and social justice initiatives.
Deacon Robert Williams of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, who knew Thomas since he was a child, described the unimaginable loss that the community is feeling as a result of his death.
“We are just having a tough time right now. We’re loving on each other. We’re consoling each other. We’re keeping our faith in God,” Williams said.
Thomas is survived by his wife and five children.
