Colleton County Fire-Rescue assisted Dorchester County emergency service organizations in the search for a 21 year old female who fell from an inflated raft and is now assumed drown. The first report of the accident came in around 1800 Saturday 18-July, reporting the missing woman near the Meservey or Givhans Boat Landing in the Givhans Area of Dorchester County. The Old Fort Fire Department arrived at the scene within minutes and requested mutual aid from Colleton County Fire-Rescue for a boat and divers. Fire-Rescue personnel arrived about 30 minutes later. The boat landing is located about 3 miles south of SC Hwy 61 on the Edisto River. The woman was with friends at the time.

Dorchester and Charleston County Sheriff’s Departments, as well as SC DNR also responded. DNR Officers also placed divers in the water and was the lead agency in the recovery effort. DNR searched most of the Colleton County side of the river where the woman is believed to have went under the water, while Colleton Divers searched around the boat landing and the Dorchester County side of the river downstream from the location. The various agency brought sophisticated equipment to the scene including sonar and several underwater

cameras. As many as 12 divers from both agencies alternated searching at various times during the two days. Currents in the area are swift and the black water limits visibility to only a few feet, forcing divers to perform much of the search by feeling with their hands or feet.

The search was halted at dark Saturday and Divers from DNR and Fire-Rescue resumed searching all day Sunday from day break to dark. As of 1930 she has not been found. Alcohol may have been a contributing factor according to witnesses.

Rescue 27, Marine 27, Medic 27, Car 17, Battalion 1 and Truck 12 responded. Firefighter Ethan Shider served as Incident Commander for Colleton County Units.