High school student who died on canoe trip identified by SC coroner
A teenage boy died during a canoeing trip Tuesday, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, or DNR.
The Charleston County Coroner identified the boy as Wando High School student Logan Janik on Thursday, WCBD reported.
According to DNR, two 17-year-old boys were in a private pond in Charleston County when their canoe capsized, WCIV reported. As they attempted to swim to shore, the teen later identified as Janik went under, according to the TV station.
“We did make a recovery after two boys in a canoe ended up in the water,” DNR spokesman Robert McCullough said in an interview with The State. “One victim didn’t make it.”
McCullough said DNR officers were among the first responders.
The attempted water rescue took place before 5:30 p.m., WCSC reported.
Janik was pulled from the pond by the other boy and a third teen who was on land, and Charleston County sheriff’s deputies performed CPR before Janik was pronounced dead at an area hospital, according to WCIV.
McCullough told The State he believes the other boy is in good health and that DNR is investigating the death.
“Our school community was hit with tragedy Tuesday night, as we lost Logan Janik, a junior at Wando High School,” principal Sherry Eppelsheimer said in a news release shared by WCBD. “While we are mourning his passing, we are truly heartbroken for his family and friends. Logan was a young man of high character; he made a positive, lasting impact on those he met. His teachers said he was a pleasure to teach and loved by all.”
No cause of death has been determined, and that information will be made public by the Charleston County coroner.
This is the second Wando High student to die in a month, as Elizabeth “Libby” Daniel was one of two people killed in a car crash following the school’s prom in April, The State previously reported. Daniel’s date, Keith Schemm, was a Wando alum who was also killed in the wreck.
This story was originally published May 8, 2019 at 10:20 PM.
