Columbia teen who drowned in Congaree River identified by Lexington County coroner
The 17-year-old who died in the Congaree River Wednesday night has been publicly identified by the Lexington County Coroner’s Office.
Javion Cannon is suspected of drowning after he disappeared in the river, Coroner Margaret Fisher said Thursday in a news release. The Columbia teen died after being reported missing while swimming, according to Fisher.
Cannon jumped into the water from rocks in the area between the Thomas Newman Public Boat Landing in Cayce and the Blossom Street Bridge at about 5:30 p.m., the Cayce Department of Public Safety said. He went underwater and did not resurface, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
A search began at about 5:45 p.m., and Cannon’s body was found around 9 p.m., according to Cayce DPS.
During the search for Cannon, another person was rescued in the water by Cayce DPS and Columbia Fire Department boat crews. That person was tubing before falling into the river, and was in distress trying to swim out of the current in the same spot Cannon was last seen, Cayce DPS said.
Further information on his condition was not available.
Along with Cayce DPS and the Columbia Fire Department, the Richland County Sheriff Department’s dive team, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources assisted with the search for Cannon.
The death is being investigated by Cayce DPS.
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This story was originally published July 23, 2020 at 9:45 AM.
