Tenn man presumed drowned in Chattooga River

WALHALLA, S.C. (AP) — Authorities say a 58-year-old Nashville, Tenn., man is missing and presumed drowned in the Chattooga River after his commercial raft overturned in the rapids.

Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis says the raft overturned at 12:20 p.m. Saturday at the Jawbone rapid near the Georgia border. The man was among six customers and two guides who fell into the river.

Addis says he was wearing a flotation vest and a helmet. Witnesses included his wife and grandson. They say he never attempted to swim ashore or reach for ropes thrown at him.

Addis says he the man is believed to be lodged beneath a rock near the Sock-em-Dog rapid.

He says there have been 38 deaths on the Chattooga River since 1970. Saturday’s would be the first on a commercial raft.