STYX RIVER, Ala. — A hot summer day. A cool, inviting river and a group of friends.

It sounds like a recipe for a great day in summer, but for Matthew William Studt, 17, of Daphne, it was the last summer day.

Studt drowned July 8 in the Styx River in Seminole. Deputies were dispatched to the Juniper Road swimming hole around 4:13 p.m.

He was a gifted guitarist, talented in sports and loved being with his friends.

He was an active member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and was involved in many youth activities. He felt honored to be part of the Katrina relief mission in Mississippi in 2005, and most recently had an enlightening experience at Affirm 2009, a Christian youth retreat in Florence. He was esteemed by many. His life makes all of us proud.

He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Joseph Simon and Robert Studt.

Survivors include his mother, Lorraine Studt of Daphne; his father, Gary Studt of Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; brother, Edward A. (Emily) Cercone; niece, Noel and nephew Eli, all of Ashland, N.Y.; grandmothers, Theresa Simon and Helen Studt of Kingston, N.Y.; great grandmother, Florence Studt of Kingston, N.Y.; many relatives and friends.

According to a report from the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office, Studt was swimming in Styx River with four of his teenage friends, when they heard him call out for help. According to the BCSO, the water is 40 to 45 feet deep in the area. The BCSO was told by the victim’s mother that he could not swim.

According to Cpl. Michael S. Gaull of the BCSO, “The victim’s friends advised our office, after hearing Matthew call out for help, they saw him go under water. The victim’s friend advised me when they first heard Matthew call out for help, they thought he was just playing around.”

A neighbor called 9-1-1.

“Seminole VFD, Lower Alabama Search and Rescue and the Escambia County Search and Rescue Teams were dispatched to Styx River to conduct a search for the victim” Gaull said.

It wasn’t until 8 p.m. that the body was recovered by a dive team.

Studt’s body was taken to the Alabama Department of Forensics for an autopsy.

Visitation was held Tuesday, at Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home in Daphne. Funeral services were held Wednesday at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Private interment services will be at a later date.

The family requests memorial donations be made to Regions Bank- Matt Studt Bereavement Fund, c/o Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 8271 Whispering Pines Road, Daphne, AL 36526 or to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.

Daphne High School Principal Don Blanchard called Matt a "teacher's delight." He remembered the rising senior as a guitar enthusiast and agricultural student who made a positive impression on those he met.

“Matt was a wonderful child. He was very respectful and did his work, and it’s my understanding that the teachers really loved teaching him,” Blanchard said.

Staff Writer Kelli M. Dugan contributed to this report.