Man drowns in lake after attempting to help child in distress, officials say

LAKE KEOWEE, S.C. (WLOS) — A South Carolina man drowned in Lake Keowee Saturday afternoon after trying to help save a child in distress in the water, officials said.

Oconee County Sheriff's Office said the E-911/County Communications Center received a call Saturday at 4:08 p.m. of reports of a drowning on Lake Keowee, near High Falls County Park. Multiple units responded to the scene -- deputies from the Uniform Patrol Bureau, sheriff's office investigators, deputies assigned to the Marine Unit, Oconee County Emergency Services and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

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Authorities said based on information given, a group of people was on a boat in a cove on Lake Keowee. While there, a child who was swimming in the water reportedly went into distress.

An adult male, identified as Caleb Emanuele Cohen, age 35, of Spartanburg, South Carolina, went into the water to assist the child, when Cohen went under and did not reemerge, officials said.

Cohen's body was recovered from the water around 8:45 p.m. Saturday and the Oconee County Coroner's Office was notified. The coroner ruled the death as an accidental drowning.

Investigators do not suspect foul play regarding the death, and the sheriff's office is continuing its investigation.