Search continues for boater who went missing in Richland County lake on Christmas
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources on Monday resumed searching a Richland County lake for a kayaker who disappeared on Christmas Day.
S.C. Department of Natural Resources dive teams and boaters returned to Columbia’s Lake Carolina at first light to resume the search, spokesman David Lucas told The State.
On Sunday, the searchers were joined by a flight team that investigated the lake from above, looking for any signs of the missing boater, according to Lucas.
The missing man is a 20-year-old college student who had returned to his parents’ home on the lake during winter break, Lucas said. Further information on him was not available.
The young man went out on the kayak before daylight on Christmas morning, according to Lucas. A search for him began around noon, Lucas said.
While the missing man has not been found, the Department of Natural Resources teams discovered a kayak and paddle on the first day of the search, according to Lucas. The teams have used a systematic approach, worked off a grid of the lake, and have employed sonar devices in the search, Lucas said.
The Department of Natural Resources would not say if the search is considered a rescue or recovery mission at this point.
“We always hope for the best,” Lucas said.
Lucas did not know if any water deaths had been reported on Lake Carolina in 2021.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
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This story was originally published December 27, 2021 at 10:11 AM.
