Coroner: Easley man jumped into Lake Keowee, drowned
Mike EllisA 47-year-old Easley man jumped into Lake Keowee and drowned Monday evening, authorities said.
The man has been identified as Jody Levi Black, according to a statement from Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis.
His body was recovered from 28 feet below the water, less than 50 minutes after he jumped from a boat into the water near the waterfall known as Party Cove, Addis said.
He had been underwater for 40 minutes, said Charlie King, Oconee County fire and emergency services chief, in an email.
Addis said Black was treated with advanced life support and taken to Oconee County Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7:14 p.m.
The manner of death was accidental, Addis said.
An emergency call was made around 5:40 p.m. and the man's friends said he had jumped into the water from a small boat, King said.
King said he was not able to provide much information, including how many people were on the boat and what was happening when the man went into the water. The investigation includes the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
The first responders at the lake included DNR, Salem Fire and Rescue, Oconee County Dive Team, Oconee EMS, Oconee County Sheriff's Office, Oconee County Coroner's Office and Oconee Emergency Services.
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