Lake Murray Resident Recalls Saving Stranded 4-Year-Old

LEXINGTON COUNTY, SC (WOLO)- As South Carolina DNR continue to search for a missing boater, neighbors who saved his 4-year-old daughter recall the horrific night.

A daddy, daughter day out on the lake ended with a child being stranded on a boat and her father still missing.

Neighbors found the 4 year old girl pacing inside the boat as it drifted into their backyards.

“My other neighbor saw that she was out there by herself and ran into action, eyewitness, Robin Johnston said. “He went into the lake, tied the boat up, and asked for his wife to call 911 and that’s when all of us that were outside immediately ran to the dock.”

When saved, neighbors noticed the child had been crying but says she showed strength and courage well past her years.

“She was completely composed, Johnston said. “The little girl was amazing. We’re all convinced it was definitely a God thing that he had his hand all over that situation. She was able to very clearly tell us things that happened on that boat and that her father had fallen over into the water. She told us they had gone swimming.”

The community came together to help the child after a terrifying night.

“The husbands got in boats and went out looking for the missing father,” Johnston said. “All of us wives took this little girl in and put dry clothes on her and gave her a snack. I’m happy that we were here for her.”

DNR officials will continue the search Tuesday morning.