Missing SC man’s body found in public pool, Richland County sheriff says

The search for a missing man came to an end Wednesday when his body was discovered in a public pool at a South Carolina park, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

At about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to a home in Eastover following a report of a missing person, the sheriff’s department said in a news release.

A woman told deputies that her adult son was last seen at the home at about 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to the release.

A few hours later Wednesday, around noon, deputies responded to Eastover Park at 1031 Main Street, the sheriff’s department said. An unresponsive man was found in the park’s pool, according to the release.

Deputies were told that park staff found the man’s body while opening up the facility, the sheriff’s department said. The victim was pronounced dead on scene and identified as the missing man, according to the release.

At 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Richland County Recreation Commission said that the Eastover Park Recreation Center, including the pool, were closed for the remainder of the day. The public facilities are expected to reopen for regular operating hours Thursday, according to the recreation commission.

The Richland County Coroner’s office has not publicly identified the man. No cause of death has been announced, but the sheriff’s department called the man a “drowning victim.”

Foul play is not suspected in the man’s death, according to the sheriff’s department.

“This tragedy is a reminder that drowning can happen quickly,” the sheriff’s department said in the release. “Wear a life jacket when appropriate, never swim alone, and make sure someone knows where you are.”

Noah Feit

The State

803-771-8435

Noah Feit is a Real Time reporter with The State focused on breaking news, public safety and trending news. The award-winning journalist has worked for multiple newspapers since starting his career in 1999. Support my work with a digital subscription