USC foreign exchange student drowns

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A foreign exchange student attending the University of South Carolina has died of an apparent drowning in the Saluda River.

Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said Saturday that 21-year-old Won Woo Choi of Columbia died Friday. Watts says Choi and some friends started across the river on a rope swing. But Choi had difficulty making it across.

He says an unknown person pulled Choi to shore, where the victim received CPR. Choi was taken to Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Watts says an autopsy shows Choi died from asphyxia by drowning.