4 anglers found freezing in SC waters after boat sinks off state park. 1 woman is now dead

Four people were found after their boat sank in freezing waters off a South Carolina state park Saturday morning, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office announced. Now one of them is dead from an apparent drowning.

The fishing party was out on Lake Hartwell off Sadlers Creek State Park in Anderson County for the “Stripe Bass Challenge,” a private striped bass fishing tournament, when its boat began to sink. According to a news release, as the boat sank, the anglers called the tournament’s staff members for help, immediately alerting first responders, including Anderson County Emergency Management, dive teams, EMS and Fire and Uniform Patrol.

A nearby boat associated with the tournament scooped the people from the water and rushed them to first responders for medical treatment.

One woman needed CPR and was rushed to a hospital, officials said. The Anderson County coroner said she was found unresponsive and face down in the water about 20-30 feet from the shoreline.

She was pronounced dead just before noon. The coroner identified her as 25-year-old Kimberely Gomillion of Aiken. The cause of death was ruled an accidental drowning. It is the first death relating to a fishing tournament on the lake, the coroner said,

The three other people involved were also taken to the hospital for treatment and were released.

An investigation found that the boat began taking on water amid high winds. It is an ongoing case for the coroner’s office and the Department of Natural Resources.

This story was originally published January 11, 2025 at 3:35 PM.

Alexa Jurado

The State

Alexa Jurado is a news reporter for The State covering Lexington County and Richland County schools. She previously wrote about the University of South Carolina and contributes to this coverage. A Chicago suburbs native, Alexa graduated from Marquette University and previously wrote for publications in Illinois and Wisconsin. Her work has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, the Milwaukee Press Club and the South Carolina Press Association.