‘There were chilling screams’: Witnesses recount S.C. drownings
LAKE WATEREE, S.C. (WIS) - An autopsy confirmed it took only a matter of seconds for both 43-year-old retired U.S. Navy veteran, Lonnie Hancock and 21-year-old Valentin Quiroz to drown in the Wateree over the weekend.
Around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Kershaw County emergency response teams and the Department of Natural Resources were called for a drowning in the Tail Race just under the Wateree Dam.
The two men who lost their lives that day jumped into the rushing water to save a 13-year-old who fell in.
The teen survived.
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Witnesses on the scene told WIS the day started off very ordinary.
Gary Mallot and Teri Gue went to take photos of the wildlife and enjoy the warm weather when they said they heard screaming from the water.
“At first we thought it was just kids playing in the water and then we heard a lady scream and then we knew something was going on and it was bad,” said Mallot.
Mallot told WIS the couple was sitting by the riverbank when things took a tragic turn.
“We did hear the screams, and there were very chilling screams which is why we decided to stay here and out of the way of what was happening down there,” said Gue.
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“They were yelling for the guys on the boat to come over and help. He was yanking on the anchor up and out of the water and pulled the child out of the water. That’s when we saw another head just go down and it just shot down,” said Gue.
On the boat Gue mentioned, there was an off-duty Lexington police officer and an active-duty U.S. Army solider.
Officials with the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office said the pair saved the teen’s life — although the efforts of Quiroz and Hancock will forever be ed.
“In that case like those two guys there... your first reaction when you see a boy in the water, you’re going to go in there and save them,” said Mallot.
Signs posted at the dam warn people of the potential dangers of the water because there is a strong current by the dam.
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Director of Kershaw County Emergency Management Services Will Glover warns anyone getting in the water to be mindful of the conditions.
He said that particular part of the water is dangerous because of the dam. He encouraged people interested in fishing to always have a partner and only swim in designated areas.
For parents with young children choose bright-colored bathing suits so they are much more visible under water, especially in murky waters.
Regardless of swimming experience, Glover said life jackets should always be worn, and if you find someone in need don’t waste time trying to save them — call 911 instead.
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