The bodies of two missing people were recovered from the Wateree River after an hours-long search involving multiple agencies.
The two victims were identified as Valentin Ulises Nicolas Quiroz, 21, and Lonnie Hancock, 43.
Kershaw County Emergency Services said that the victims went missing at around 4:15 p.m. Saturday after leaving the bank to try to help a 13-year-old who slipped and fell into rapidly moving water.
Quiroz was reportedly a family friend of the boy who was rescued while Hancock was a “complete stranger” who jumped in the lake to help.
The first body was located Saturday night. The second was found at 12:20 p.m. Sunday.
“This is more of a hero story than it is a drowning story. That’s kind of what I wanted to shed the light on,” said Kershaw County Sheriff Lee Boan.
