William Friend, husband of One Tree Hill star Bevin Prince, has died at the young age of 33 due to a freak lightning strike, according to a story in PEOPLE.
The tragedy occurred while Friend was on a boat near Masonboro island this Sunday. He was pronounced dead after the medical team spent 20 minutes trying to revive him.
Following this incident, Odette Annable, a close friend of William Friend, shared a tribute post on Instagram on Wednesday, stating that “The unimaginable has happened.”
“We have to say goodbye to another friend, @britwilliam. My best friend @bevinaprince beloved husband,” Annable said under a series of photos of Friend, Prince, and their dog.
Annable describes writing the most as”surreal,:, due to the sudden and unexpected nature of Friend’s death. “It feels like you were just getting started. The life and love that you gave to my best friend made it feel okay that we were thousands of miles apart”” she wrote.
Friend and Prince had been married since 2016. They had just moved to Wrightsville Beach from New York City during the pandemic to be closer to family. They had also recently launched a new local fitness business together, called Recess.
Annable adds, “as I sit in your beautiful home, looking out onto the ocean, I keep thinking about what a gift you gave to Bevin. What a gift you gave to everyone who knew you to witness the passion that burned in your soul.”
In the tear-jerking letter to her late friend, Annable also highlighted Friend’s passion “to help people, to build your business, to find happiness like I’d never seen from you living in North Carolina with Bevin.”
Annable shared that Friend was “Perfect for [Prince] in every way.”
“You supported her dreams, you made her feel seen, you adored her with every bit of your soul and I will forever be grateful to witness that kind of love.”
Last year, the couple celebrated their 5th anniversary.
“5 years, baby,” she wrote at the time. “Winston and I are so lucky to know you, to love you, and to learn with you. We have come so far and I am so proud of the life we have built. You make life delicious, my love. I love you. ❤️ @britwilliam,” Prince wrote in an Instagram post.
A GoFundMe page was established after Friend’s death as a memorial fund and as a way to support his business Recess and Special Operators Transition Foundation, which was dedicated to Special Operations heroes and their families.
To help keep Friend’s dreams alive, please visit his GoFundMe page.
