Lake Hartwell Incident Ends Tragically

The late Saturday incident on Lake Hartwell has had a tragic ending. Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis says the 21 year old man who was pulled from the water late Saturday has died at GreenvilleMemorialHospital. Addis identified the man as 21 year old Odell Gaither of Lugoff, SC. The incident occurred around 7:20 PM Saturday at the Y-Beach area on LakeHartwell, located at 275 YMCA Circle in Seneca, which is close to ClemsonUniversity. The 911 system after callers reported a man had jumped off of a floating dock located in a designated swimming . Addis says he was recovered from water approximately 6 feet deep, and it was reported he was under water for approximately 10 minutes or less. Units from Clemson University Fire Department, Clemson University Police, Department of Natural Resources, Oconee Emergency Services, and Oconee County Sheriff’s department responded. Gaither was taken to OconeeMemorialHospital and then transported to GreenvilleMemorialHospital where he died around 2 am Sunday morning. Addis says the death has been ruled accidental an no autopsy will be conducted. Addis says toxicology will be performed. Gaither was a student at USC-Upstate.