By Teddy Kulmala
The State
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Crews resumed their search Monday morning for a swimmer who went missing in the Congaree River on Sunday.
The search was suspended Sunday evening when it became dark, according to Assistant Chief George Adams of the Columbia Fire Department. Crews on Monday morning will continue searching for the swimmer, who went missing while he was trying to swim across the river with three other people around 11:30 a.m. Sunday.
Officials have said the swimmers were overcome by the strong current about halfway across the river near the Gervais Street bridge. One of them swam to some nearby rocks, and a bystander on the shore swam to the middle of the river to help two of the swimmers, officials said.
The fourth swimmer has not been seen since. None of the swimmers were wearing life jackets.
Rescue efforts on Sunday included Columbia firefighters, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department dive team, a State Law Enforcement Division helicopter and S.C. Department of Natural Resources officers. Crews were focused mostly on the area of the river between the Gervais Street and Blossom Street bridges; however, late Sunday afternoon they expanded the search area downriver.
Copyright 2017 The State