Man Drowns Near Prophet Bridge in Enid Lake

By Alyssa Schnugg
News Editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

A Water Valley man died Saturday after he fell off a boat and fell into Enid Lake, according to the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department.

Bryan “Poppy” Tidwell, who worked at Winchester in Oxford, died Saturday after a boating incident.
Photo via Facebook

At about 5 p.m. Saturday, the sheriff’s department and the Lafayette County Search and Research Team responded to the Prophet Bridge boat ramp. They discovered Bryan “Poppy” Tidwell, 40, had fallen into the water approximately 200 to 300 yards from the boat ramp.

Tidwell was not wearing a life jacket at the time he fell into the lake, according to the sheriff’s department.

The LCSD Dive Rescue Team recovered Tidwell’s body a short time after being dispatched to the scene.

Prophet Bridge landing is on the south end of Lafayette County and runs into Enid Lake.

This is the second drowning in Lafayette County this year. In March, Junior Sides, 73, died after falling out of a board on Sardis Lake. He was not wearing a life jacket.

The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department would like to remind all those who spend time on the water to wear their life-jackets while on the water, regardless of swimming skill, age or current weather conditions.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. prior to the service.

Tidwell worked for Winchester in the maintenance department. He was known as an avid hunter and fisherman.

Read Tidwell’s complete obituary here.