It was in 2017 when Richard Ragland drowned after he and his friends stopped for pictures at a Tennessee waterfall.
They recorded themselves laughing and splashing on Ragland’s GoPro camera only a few moments before the tragic incident happened.
Since Ragland was a strong swimmer, his heartbroken parents couldn’t understand how their 22-year-old son could’ve drowned
According to the sheriff who took the case, Ragland’s death was caused by a simple accident. His friends also said that he had gone too deep and couldn’t swim back to the surface right away.
One of the friends had attempted to rescue him but it was already too late.
“Rich was full of life,” Robin McCrear, Ragland’s mother, said to WSB-TV.
His father, Gary McCrear, added: “He was about helping others and living life to the fullest.”
The McCrears received a phone call from Rich Abernathy claiming to have found Ragland’s camera. He was diving near the waterfall where Ragland drowned when he saw his GoPro buried in the mud at the bottom of the swimming hole.
Remembering the story of the 22-year-old man’s death, Abernathy suspected right away that it might be Ragland’s.
He pulled out the SD card and was shocked to discover that it still worked. He went through the footage and saw Ragland’s final moments.
“I strongly believe that God led me to this GoPro because the only thing I saw was the end tip of the thumb screw and everything else was just covered in muck,” he said to WSB-TV.
Mr. McCrear said: “For him to go through his efforts to do his research, make numerous phone calls, he didn’t give up until he got in touch with us and that means the world to us.”
“The SD card was intact. All his footage was there. It was like an out-of-body experience,” the father added.
“My heart breaks for the family and friends of Richard L Ragland III,” Abernathy wrote in a Facebook post. “I’m beyond amazed that God used me as a vessel for His glory to return such a priceless GoPro to the family!!! #Miracles happen and #Prayers really do get answered! Trust me!”
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