21/May/2017 – Drowning Incident – “B” Shift

Incident # 17-03557 – A Colleton County teenager drown while swimming in the Edisto River at the Colleton State Park Sunday morning 21-May. At 11:42, 9-1-1 received two calls reporting a 16 year old male had gone under the water and had not come back up. The swimming area is located at the rear of the State Park which is at 147 Wayside Lane off of Jefferies Hwy (US Hwy 15) at the Colleton / Dorchester County line. Fire-Rescue dispatched a boat with rescue divers to the scene. The Colleton County Sheriff’s Office, Dorchester County Fire-Rescue, Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, Dorchester County EMS and DNR also responded, several agencies brought boats to the location. Colleton had a crew at the state park on the south side of the river where the incident occurred and where the victim’s family was located. Most units, including Colleton’s Rescue Divers responded to the north side of the river in Dorchester County where a boat landing is located. It is directly across from the incident location. Fire-Rescue Divers began searching where witnesses reported the teenager was last seen. A diver located the victim approximately 5 minutes after entering the water. He had been under the water for close to an hour and had no signs of life. He was recovered from the river, transferred to a Sheriff’s Office boat, then taken back to the boat landing and placed in an ambulance to wait on the Coroner’s Office to arrive. The Colleton County Coroner’s Office transported to victim’s body to MUSC.

Engine 19, Medic 13, Medic 19, Battalion 1, Car 109 and Car 118 responded. Battalion Chief Scott Feather served as Incident Commander.