Reporter
rseabornA@pickenssentinel.com
SIX MILE -A 30-year-old Norris man drowned Saturday after he fell into the waters of Lake Keowee.
Ricky Chapman, of 103 Dayle Drive, was pronounced dead at Cannon Memorial Hospital, said Kandy Kelley, Pickens County Chief Deputy Coroner.
Shortly before midnight, Chapman, along with two friends, was fishing from the Gap Hill Landing dock, in Six Mile, when he fell into the water, Kelley said.
Knowing that Chapman was a good swimmer, and believing he had just swam away after the fall, the friends conducted their own search before notifying emergency workers, said Mike Isaac, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources First Sergeant.
"It was about 10 minutes before they called anyone because they were looking for him themselves," he said.
After a 15-minute search of the area by emergency responders, Chapman's body was recovered in about 8 feet of water, Isaac said.
According to Isaac, it is not unusual for people to fish from that dock throughout the night.
"Catfish bite at night, so some people will fish all night," he said.
DNR and Pickens County Sheriff's Office officials continue are still investigating the incident, Isaac said.
Chapman is the fifth person to die in lakes Hartwell, Keowee and Jocassee this year in Pickens and Oconee counties.
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