Midlands man stepped off boat ramp into lake and didn’t come back alive, coroner says
A Midlands man drowned in Lake Wateree, the Kershaw County Coroner’s Office said Thursday.
Douglas Belton Jr. died Wednesday, Coroner David West said in a news release.
The 54-year-old Camden resident was with friends at Buck Hill Landing on the Lugoff side of the lake, according to the release.
After walking down a boat ramp, Belton stepped off the end and into the water, West said.
Belton could not swim, according to the release.
Belton “went down and did not come back up,” West said.
At about 6:50 p.m., his friends called 911 right after Belton disappeared in Lake Wateree, according to West.
First responders from multiple emergency agencies were on the scene, including the Kershaw County Rescue Squad, the coroner said. Members of the Camden Fire Department dive team recovered Belton’s body about 30-45 minutes after he went into the water, according to West.
The water at the end of the boat ramp is about 15 feet deep, West said.
Belton’s death was not a suicide, according to West.
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This story was originally published June 2, 2022 at 12:10 PM with the headline "Midlands man stepped off boat ramp into lake and didn’t come back alive, coroner says."
