Aiken County Woman Dies After Fishing Boat Sinks At State Park
An Aiken County woman was among four people in a boat on Lake Hartwell off Sadlers Creek State Park in Anderson County when it sank Saturday morning.
Anderson County authorities said the boat reportedly started taking on water as a result of high winds.
All four, including 25-year-old Kimberely Gomillion of Aiken, were participating in the “Stripe Bass Challenge” fishing tournament when their boat began to sink in freezing waters.
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Office says the anglers called the tournament’s staff members for help.
Anderson County Emergency Management, dive teams, EMS and Fire and Uniform Patrol arrived quickly and rendered aid to all four.
Aiken County Woman Died Shortly After the Rescue
Authorities said first responders had to administer CPR to Gomillion after she was pulled from the water. She was reportedly found face down in the water about 20 to 30 feet from the shoreline.
The Anderson County Coroner’s Office pronounced Gomillion dead at an area hospital early Saturday afternoon. The cause of her death was ruled an accidental drowning.
The other three in the boat with Gomillion were treated at the hospital and later released.
The boating accident is under investigation by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
