Lonnie Joe Hughes, 47, 154 Farm Lake Road, Jonesville, was pulled from a pond behind his house by emergency personnel who were unsuccessful in their attempt to revive him.
Capt. James McNeil of the Union County Sheriff’s Office said a call came in to 911 just before 7 p.m. reporting Hughes had fallen off a yellow float. McNeil said personnel from the sheriff’s office, Union County EMS and the Department of Natural Resources were dispatched to the scene.
The incident report states when emergency responders arrived they found Hughes face down in the pond approximately 60 yards from the shore.
McNeil said they used a small john boat to reach Hughes and bring him to shore where EMS personnel determined he was not breathing and tried to revive him.
McNeil said the Union County Coroner and the investigator on duty were then summoned to the scene. He said this is standard procedure in the event of a death.
Hughes’ body was transported to Newberry Hospital where an autopsy will be conducted today. The autopsy will make a final determination on the cause of death.
McNeil said Hughes’ wife, Mary, and her son, Wiliam T. Keith, were present when he fell in the water. He said they told the investigator Keith was trying to bring Hughes back to shore when he fell in the water. McNeil said Mrs. Hughes and Keith told them Hughes had been drinking and could not swim which was why Keith was trying to bring him back to shore.
McNeil said it was unknown if alcohol was a factor in the accident.
Post a Comment
