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Update - Boat capsized: two dead, one still missing
Posted: 02.19.2009 at 9:32 AM
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Searchers comb river looking for last survivor

An ambulance leaves Sandy Island landing Thursday morning
Photo

SANDY ISLAND, S.C. -- Updated 9:40am Thursday

Rescuers are combing the waters of the Waccamaw River near Sandy Island after six people were thrown from a boat, WPDE in Myrtle Beach, S.C. is reporting. Two people are now confirmed dead, and a teenager is still missing.

According to officials, around 9 p.m. Wednesday, the group -- mostly relatives -- boarded a boat at Sandy Island Landing and were headed home to Sandy Island.

They were about 30 yards from home when the boat began taking on water and flipped, according to Sgt. Neil Johnson with the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office.

Despite conflicting initial reports on the number of passengers, Johnson said that four adults, a 6-year-old and an infant were in the boat. The boat's operator and her son, the six-year-old, swam to shore and are OK.

The infant, whose exact age is not clear, washed ashore but was alive and flown to MUSC in Charleston.

As of 6 a.m. Thursday, the infant's condition was unknown -- although Georgetown County Coroner Kenney Johnson said the infant had a "good heartbeat" but a low body temperature before being choppered out.

Just around midnight, rescuers recovered the body of 19-year-old Shaquatia Robinson of Sandy Island. Coroner Johnson said she had a minor forehead injury and it appears she drowned.

A second body was found by a Sandy Island resident helping in the search around 8am Thursday.  The body recovered is that of 47-year-old Lou Ann Robinson, Shaquatia's mother.

"We just had her (Lou Ann's) mother pass away, right after Thanksgiving. And to hear this now, it's just too much. It's just a lot to handle," said relative Doris Gordon on Wednesday night.

The sixth passenger, described as a male teenager is still missing at this time.

Sandy Island is located in between the Waccamaw and Great Pee Dee rivers and is considered part of Georgetown County's Waccamaw Neck. About a dozen families live on the island, which is only accessible by boat.

Crews from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Coast Guard, Georgetown County Sheriff's Office, and Midway Fire Rescue all responded. DNR is leading the search effort and investigation.

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