'My Heart Breaks': Ryan Mallett Death; Bodycam Footage Released On Beach Drowning Tragedy

A portion of the bodycam video footage from the beach scene in which former NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett died in an apparent drowning has been released.

Authorities in Florida have released a portion of the bodycam video footage from the beach scene in which former NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett died in an apparent drowning earlier this week.

The initial word from law enforcement officials after Mallett's death went public indicated his drowning was directly related to the strong rip currents that have been making Florida beaches over the last month a danger zone. At least 11 people have drowned along the Gulf Coast in the month of June alone.

But now authorities say there were no rip currents in the area at the time of Mallett's death and that they did not play a role in the fatality, according to CBS News.

Of course, that does nothing to change the unfortunate loss of Mallett, 35, who was drafted by the Patriots - he is mourned by Tom Brady, who called him "a great man'' - and then who played for the Houston Texans and the Ravens.

Said Houston legend J.J. Watt via social media: "Gone way too soon. Rest in Peace brother."

Rescue officials hurried to the scene at the beach in Destin just after 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday afternoon, as the footage shows. Police say they found a group of swimmers struggling to get back to shore from a sandbar.

Life-saving methods on Mallett proved to be unsuccessful and he was later pronounced dead at a Destin emergency hospital.

"We wanted to report that Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office investigators are continuing to gather information in the drowning of an Arkansas tourist Tuesday afternoon in the Gulf of Mexico," the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post, speaking of Mallett, who has been a high school coach in his home state. "Investigators say Mallett began struggling while attempting to swim to a second sandbar about 150 feet offshore of the beach ...''

Our thoughts are with Ryan Mallett's family and friends, in the NFL community and beyond, keyed by a statement from Mallett's ex-wife, Tiffany Seeley, who writes on social media, "My heart breaks for everyone."

Want the latest in breaking and insider news for the Houston Texans? Click Here

Follow Texans Daily on Twitter and Facebook

Make sure to subscribe to our daily podcast @LockedOnTexans today! Click here To Listen.

Want even more Houston Texans news? Check out the SI.com team page here.