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Penn. man drowns on Isle of Palms
Monday, August 4, 2008
A Pennsylvania man drowned while swimming or walking along a sand bar on the Isle of Palms on Saturday, officials said.
Charleston County Deputy Coroner Brittney Wofford identified the man Sunday as Hugh Whiteman, 69.
Isle of Palms Fire Chief Ann Graham said they received a report about 1:10 p.m. that the man had disappeared. They found the man's body in the ocean near 4th Avenue.
Graham said they're still investigating what happened.
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Comments
This article has 8 comment(s)
Posted by jeff61 on August 4, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How do you drown walking along a sand bar? The smart money is the man was in the water.
Posted by MsPiggy on August 4, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Those currents are terrible! And the sad thing is, you really don't have to be that far out for them to take you away.
I was at IOP a couple weekends ago and I was in to my waist and that current was pulling me out. It doesn't matter how hard you swim, you don't get anywhere. Basically you just get to tired from trying, and the waves keep crashing and boom...before you know it you're dead.
What a sad story. Don't swim alone!
Posted by RTC on August 4, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That's sad, but when you are not familiar with an area you need to be extra cautious. That area is not good for swimming, and many people find themselves trapped on sandbars when the tide comes in. A really terrible tragedy.
Posted by Cid95 on August 4, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
4th ave - not too far up from Breech Inlet. I hope he wasn't swimming there. Condolences.
Posted by iceman1978 on August 4, 2008 at 4:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The current was pulling at the washout yesterday. You have to be very careful how deep you go in the water. Even when you have a surfboard, which floats a lot better than you will, you always have someone with you.
Posted by rollo on August 4, 2008 at 6:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sandbars come and they go. One minute you're standing on sand, the next, you're in the water.
Incoming or outgoing tide can construct a sandbar in a few hours, a riptide can wash it away in a few seconds.
And, I'll say again, the barrier islands are noting but sandbars themselves.
The ocean givith, and the ocean taketh away.
It's sad that so many learn the truth the hard way. My condolences to the family.
Posted by counterpoint on August 5, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No proof he drowned yet. He was old enough to have had a heart attack. My wife and I watched the search and rescue - good job IoPFD for finding him so quickly.
Posted by jacksonsmom on August 6, 2008 at 9:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Family members of Hugh Whiteman have seen the comments posted, including me. I grew up on Isle of Palms and swam at the beach around 4th Avenue many times. The ONLY area with signs marking dangerous currents are posted at the base of the bridge at Breech Inlet. If one were to come across the IOP connector and head to the beach, the signs would not be seen. Often the sign across from the Red & White posts rip current information. None was posted on the day of the drowning. Hugh was a former marine, a good swimmer, and a wonderful man. It was a terrible tragedy, but was in NO way due to carelessness or inexperience. He will be missed and the IOP Fire and Rescue did their job. It would be appreciated if people would think about what they are posting before submitting comments. Thank you to those of you who expressed your sympathy!