COLUMBIA (WACH) -- Wednesday’s drowning at the Congaree river is a reminder that as temperatures rise more people will hit Columbia’s waterways.
But there's always a chance the summer fun can turn deadly.
That's why officials emphasize safety. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Officer Robert Mccullough says the current can make swimming in a river like the Congaree extremely dangerous.
“The water is not clear because there's so much water running through there. Its always a little murky so you’re never really sure where you're stepping and where you stepped last week might not be there, if we have rain. Because alot of water coming through there moves the rock," says Lieutenant Robert Mccullough.
For that reason, Mccullough says it's important to always wear a life jacket and use caution.
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