69-year-old man drowns after being thrown from his boat in a storm, SC officials say

A South Carolina boater trying to return to the dock during a storm was thrown overboard and drowned, officials say.

The evening of July 29, 69-year-old Darrell Hewett had taken his boat out for a ride on Lake Hartwell, according to a report from the Anderson County coroner’s office. He got caught in a storm and was heading back to the dock when his boat hit rough water.

He stood up and was thrown from his boat, the report says. The Simpsonville resident was reportedly not wearing a life jacket.

Bystanders trying to get to the dock during the storm found and removed Hewett from the water, according to the coroner’s office.

When first responders arrived, he was pronounced dead.

Those who knew Hewett expressed their grief and support for his family on social media.

“We all loved Darrell,” one Facebook user wrote. “He will be missed so so much!! I feel like I lost a brother. He was always only a phone call away.”

Anderson is about 120 miles northwest of Columbia.

This story was originally published July 31, 2023 at 1:56 PM with the headline "69-year-old man drowns after being thrown from his boat in a storm, SC officials say."