PIMLICO, Virginia (September 2, 2003) -- A Virginia man's body was recovered Monday from the Cooper River in Berkeley County following an apparent diving accident. William K. Mizell III, 40, of Virginia Beach, Va., was pulled from the river about 11:30 a.m. following a seven-hour search effort that began Sunday evening and ended just before noon Monday at the Pimlico Boat Landing a few miles from Cypress Gardens. Authorities suspect that Mizell and his diving equipment may have been struck with a boat propeller but they said an autopsy will reveal details of his death, according to Bill Salisbury, chief deputy Berkeley County Coroner and captain of the Berkeley County Rescue Squad. Mizell was an experienced diver with at least 600 dives under his belt, Salisbury said. Mizell met with two friends from Orangeburg County who had planned an underwater expedition for artifacts, Salisbury said. Mizell is said to have slipped into the water about a mile north of the landing around 5 p.m. Sunday, said Lt. Scott Powell of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. Mizell was last seen by a dive partner about 6 p.m. near the bottom of the Cooper River, Powell said. The partner, whose name was not released, surfaced for air. When Mizell didn't come up, the partner panicked and returned to the murky waters in search of Mizell. Authorities were called soon after. | | Berkeley County Rescue Squad arrived just after 6 p.m. and launched a search. Nightfall hampered rescue efforts which ceased about 9:30 p.m. Sunday. Rescue efforts also were hampered by strong currents resulting from an outgoing tide. By Monday, rescue teams focused on recovering Mizell's body, Salisbury said. A DNR diver discovered Mizell's body about 11:30 a.m. An autopsy will be performed at Medical University Hospital to determine the cause of death, Salisbury said. "There are a lot of things we have to look at," he said. Berkeley County Rescue Squad led efforts and was assisted by DNR, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Pimlico Rural Fire Department. SOURCE - Post and Couriers |
