COLUMBIA (WACH)-- Dive crews have recovered the body of a swimmer who drowned in the Congaree River Wednesday afternoon.
The incident happened around 3:30 p.m. in the water near Catawba Street close to Carolina Stadium.
Richland County Coroner Gary Watts says the victim's name is James M. Sharpe, Jr. He was 18-years-old and attended Dreher High School.
“James Michael Sharpe who I knew as Mike, had come to us this year. He was a personable young man and I had spoken with him within the last couple of weeks because he had been making such good progress toward making his goal to graduate this summer," says Jeanne Stiglbauer, Principal Dreher High School.
According to Columbia Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins, witnesses say Sharpe went under, and never came back up.
This is the second blow for the Dreher High family.
Just last month, 17 year old Santerrica Johnson was shot to death off school grounds. Investigators say she was an innocent bystander.
“It’s important to me that these two young people be honored as young people and for the zest they had for living and the goals they were setting for, ”says Jeanne Stiglbauer, Principal Dreher High School.
Columbia-Richland Fire Department and Department of Natural Resources dive teams responded. A diver found Sharpe's body around 6 p.m.
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