A local woman is still on life support in a nearby hospital after she was saved April 30 by first responders from a vehicle submerged in Lake Marion off S.C. 260 near Manning.
Sheriff Tim Baxley said that a passing motorist observed a submerged vehicle in the evening hours of April 30 near the intersection of S.C. 260 and Herring Drive and immediately called 911.
"Deputies with the Clarendon County Sheriff's Office, firefighters from the Clarendon County Fire Department, Clarendon County EMS and first responders responded to the scene," Baxley said.
Clarendon County Sheriff's Office Cpl. Kevin Wilson, Sgt. Clay Conyers and Maj. Donnie Drose observed a small, four-door vehicle fully submerged about 75 yards from the edge of the lake, Baxley reported.
The three swam to the vehicle and found "an unresponsive female subject inside, underwater," Baxley said.
"Maj. Drose and Sgt. Conyers pulled the female subject from the vehicle, and deputies placed her with her face out of the water and carried her to the lake shore, while Sgt. Conyers began chest compressions on her," Baxley said.
Wilson subsequently continued CPR on the woman, whose identity was not released by Baxley or the South Carolina Highway Patrol, while Drose and Conyers returned to the submerged vehicle to ensure no one else was inside.
Baxley said Clarendon County firefighter Daishawn "Curtis" McFadden also assisted until EMS arrived and confirmed that the female victim had a pulse and began their treatment.
The woman was transported eventually to McLeod Health Clarendon by EMS.
