A west Alabama teenager has died from injuries suffered in a mishap in the Gulf of Mexico.

16-year-old Shemarkus Spears was caught in the surf while on spring break, and was hospitalized after being rescued. He died five days later.

His mother told The Choctaw Sun Advocate that Spears was standing in the water when the tide came in and a rip current carried him away from shore.

Spears was a sophomore at Choctaw County High School, where he was captain of the football team.