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SCDNR News

SCDNR investigating a boating fatality in Orangeburg County

July 15, 2019

One person has died after a boating accident on Lake Marion Saturday evening.

At approximately 5 p.m., six boaters on a 32-foot pontoon boat with an enclosed structure, were heading to Lake Marion Resort Landing to escape a storm. While en route, waves swamped the boat and flipped it, trapping all six people in the structure underneath the water.

Five boaters were able to get out and surface, however, one was not. Two of the boaters retrieved back underwater and brought the other boater to the surface.

During this, an SCDNR officer who was also en route to the landing, came across the scene and was able to get all six people aboard his vessel.

The boater who did not originally surface was pronounced dead at a local hospital a short time later. Two dogs on the boat also died.

This incident is still under investigation and no charges are expected at this time.