Body recovered from Lake Keowee

A drowning occurred Wednesday afternoon at Fall Creek Landing on Lake Keowee near Salem. Emergency responders were called around 4:50pm, reports Oconee County Emergency Services Deputy Chief of Emergency Management and Special Operations Scott Krein. “Well, unfortunately yesterday we had another tragic event at the jumping off rock. We had the Dive Team called in and they dove into the lake. They recovered a 21-year-old male that unfortunately was unable to swim and was walking across, then slipped into deeper water and was unable to return to the surface.” Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis pronounced the 21-year-old dead at 5:35pm. His name has not been released pending notification of family members. Chief Krein offers these safety tips when exploring the area. “When you are walking in the water just remember in one minute you can be in four foot of water and the next minute your stepping on ground that you can’t see. So, you can be in deeper water and over your head in no time. If you can’t swim, put a life vest on and don’t drown.” The Oconee County Coroner’s Office and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources are investigating the drowning incident.