Drowned Alton boy remembered, family seeking donations for funeral

July 27--ALTON -- Harry B. Saulsberry Jr. loved water and loved to fish, but it was a fishing outing that claimed his life Monday when he drowned by the Alton Marina public boat launch.

"He was a happy boy, he was very active," said his aunt, Ruthie Davis of Alton of her 9-year-old nephew who everyone called "BB."

"He loved to ride his bike, he rode his bike a lot," she said. "He loved the water, he loved to fish. He was good at fishing. It's just heartbreaking. This is a tragedy for our family. Not once did I imagine that our family would be facing the hurt and pain that we have experienced with the drowning of BB. He was so much joy to his mom and dad. He was his dad's 'Jr.,' and BB was always at family functions through out his life. We all adored and loved BB. He will truly be missed by us."

BB would have entered fourth grade at West Elementary School next month.

"BB was a dare devil," said his mother, Peggy Gates. "He loved to ride his bike. He sang in church, and attended 12th Street Presbyterian Church in Alton. His best friend was De' Marcus V. and they spent time together riding their bikes."

Now, instead of gathering new supplies, shoes and clothes for the boy's next year at school, the family is trying to raise $5,000 for BB's funeral expenses. The family did not have life insurance on BB.

Davis has set up an online, crowd-source funding page at: gofundme.com (Harry Bernard Saulsberry Jr.) to raise the money.

The site says the family needs funds: "to give Harry a homegoing celebration since there was no insurance policy for Harry. Harry was a sweet but curious little boy that loved to go fishing and play in the water, but Harry could not swim yet. On Monday, a family friend took Harry and a couple of his cousins fishing at the Alton Marina and Harry somehow slipped on some moss and fell in the water and drowned. Harry was loved by many and he will truly be missed by all. Rest in Love Harry, fly high baby boy!!"

People also may donate toward the funeral expenses at Marks Mortuary, 633 E. Lorena Ave., Wood River, IL 62095.

Davis said the family has not set a date for the funeral, but it will be sometime next week at Marks Mortuary.

Davis said BB was with his mother's sister's boyfriend, BB's cousin and 10-year-old sister, Sunshine, when they went to fish from the concrete boat ramp under the Clark Bridge.

"He was standing on the boat launch and he slipped on some moss and fell into the water," Davis said the family told her. "A little boy (his best friend) named De' Marcus, who could swim, tried to help get him out of the water. BB didn't know how to swim, he was panicking and went under. His sister Sunshine saw him drown."

BB also has an older brother, Devon, and half-siblings.

"BB was the baby," Davis said.

Davis, whose brother Harry B. Saulsberry Sr. is the boy's father, said their mother called her from OSF Saint Anthony's Hospital to tell her of the tragedy. "She said the coroner (deputy) was there and there was nothing more they can do. I did get to see him, I kissed him on the forehead. We believe he already was dead when he got to the hospital."

Someone at the scene had called 911 at 4:48 p.m. to report that a 9-year-old boy, who could not swim, had fallen into water by the marina.

A police officer was the first to reach the area, with Alton Fire Chief Bernie Sebold and five firefighters and other officers soon arriving thereafter. The rescuers quickly waded into the dark, murky waters with no visibility, combing the depths for the submerged child. The rescuers moved from area to area as they searched for BB.

Finally, one of the rescuers located the unconscious boy in about 10 feet of water, about 9 feet from the end of a dock.

Sebold carried the child as he ran up the concrete public launch ramp and loaded BB into a waiting, Alton Fire Department ambulance. Firefighter paramedics then drove the boy to Saint Anthony's, where staff unsuccessfully attempted to revive the child.

It was unclear how long the boy had been under water.

Davis said the boy was close to his father, also of Alton, who is too upset to talk about his son and young buddy's death.

"He and my brother were real close, his dad has been there for him since Day 1," she said. "This is the first time I ever saw him cry."

Reach Linda N. Weller at 618-208-6450 or on Twitter @Linda_Weller

___

(c)2018 The Telegraph (Alton, Ill.)

Visit The Telegraph (Alton, Ill.) at www.thetelegraph.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.