Body of missing swimmer, 18, recovered near state park, deputies confirm

DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - Crews have located the body of a swimmer reported missing Sunday in the area of Givhans Ferry State Park nearly 24 hours after authorities responded to the scene.

Lt. Rick Carson said the body was recovered just after 12:30 p.m. Monday after witnesses helped deputies determine where the 18-year-old had last been seen in the Edisto River.

“They worked for a little while, decided to try to re-triangulate where they believe he was last seen,” Carson said. “Probably less than an hour after they did that, they located him about 75 to 100 yards downstream from where he went under.”

Deputies responded to a call Sunday at 2:52 p.m. to the initial call about the missing swimmer.

“He was with friends that were witnesses,” Carson said. “There were a couple of people who actually saw him go down, go under, and they also made an attempt to find him.”

Carson said three boats and divers searched for the teen Sunday night but the search was suspended around 8:15 p.m. because of darkness and the possibility of storms. The search resumed at approximately 8:30 a.m. Monday.

“Our condolences go out to the family, you hate to see these types of accidents,” Carson said.

He called the Edisto River “unforgiving” stressing that swimmers must make sure they know where they are in the river and urged anyone who does not know the river well to wear a flotation device.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Dorchester County Fire and Rescue, Colleton County Fire-Rescue, the DNR dive team and the Dorchester County Emergency Management Division assisted deputies in the search.

The Dorchester County Coroner’s Office has not yet released the name of the victim.

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