Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Conducting Death Investigation after Responding to Reported Drowning

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a death investigation this evening after responding to reports of a drowning that occurred Saturday on Lake Keowee near High Falls County Park.

The E-911/Communications Center received a call around 4:08pm Saturday of reports of a
drowning. Deputies from the Uniform Patrol Bureau, Investigators from the Sheriff’s Office,
Deputies assigned to the Marine Unit, Oconee County Emergency Services and the South
Carolina Department of Natural Resources all responded to the scene.

Based on information that has been gathered during the investigation, a group was on a boat in a cove on Lake Keowee. A child, who was swimming in the water, reportedly went into distress.

An adult male went into the water to assist the child and went under the water. The adult male did not resurface. The adult male was located in the water around 8:45pm. The Oconee County Coroner’s Office was notified and has identified the victim as 35-year-old Caleb Emanuele Cohen of Spartanburg. The cause of death was determined to have been an accidental drowning.

At this time, Investigators do not suspect foul play in regard to the death and there is no danger to the public.

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation.