MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) - Family and friends are mourning the death of 19-year-old Pace Taylor, who drowned in Memphis after going to a concert at the Mud Island Amphitheatre.
Audio from first responders reveals the confusing, scrambling moments as firefighters, police officers and the Coast Guard tried to help find Pace as he struggled to swim in the Mississippi River.
The first call for help was sent out over the Memphis Fire Department scanner at 11:23 p.m.
"Apparently somebody jumped off the wall behind the museum. They're on the rocks. They're going to have to be recovered from the water. They had eyes on him. He was on a buoy, but they lost him. He is in the water.”
As first responders rushed to the boat launch at the Mud Island Amphitheatre, they got more information from a witness who said Pace Taylor had jumped the wall, slipped on the rocks, and fell into the water.
"Is the harbor patrol on duty tonight?"
"We were told they were supposed to be down here, but we're now at the boat and there's no one here."
Memphis Firefighters on the scene were communicating with multiple different agencies -- Memphis Police, Coast Guard, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
The scanner traffic appears to show there was some confusion as to who was doing what on the scene.
Twenty minutes after the first call, Memphis Firefighters got confirmation that Memphis Police had their boat on the water, searching for Pace.
Pace's body was discovered Sunday near Tom Lee Park.
Our sister station WALB in Georgia interviewed Pace's fraternity brother at Valdosta State University, where he just completed his freshman year.
"Just a hilarious guy, he was full of jokes," said Pace's close friend Dylan Leonard. "Always had a smile on his face. Just remember and honor his life because we all loved him very much>
WMC5 reached out to Memphis police and Memphis fire to determine what protocols and procedures are taken when someone is in the water.
So far, officials have not explained those protocols.
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