Chattooga River Death

A 64-year-old Madison, Georgia man drowned Monday evening on the Chattooga River.  The Oconee County 911 system was contacted at 6:04pm reporting the incident on Section III of the river above Sandy Ford near Mountain Rest.  Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis pronounced the man dead at 8:20pm after his body was removed from the river.  According to witnesses, the victim, a friend and his son, were canoeing on the river.  As they approached Sandy Ford, the victim’s canoe apparently overturned.  His friend who was down river, looked back and observed him floating in the river in no apparent distress. He was seen a short time later and it appeared his legs became entangled in an undercut of a rock in the river, which pushed him underwater.  An attempt to free him was unsuccessful.  The man was wearing a helmet and life jacket.  Coroner Addis said his name would be released later after family is notified.  A post mortem exam has been ordered to assist with the death investigation.  The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is investigating the drowning as they do all drownings in public waterways.