MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Horry County Deputy Coroner Michelle McSpadden reports that a missing 78-year-old man was found dead by authorities who were searching for him.
The coroner’s office does not suspect foul play.
Officials in Horry County spent hours Thursday searching for 78-year-old Edward Smith, concluding the search around 2:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon when Smith was found deceased.
According to Horry County police, Smith was last seen Wednesday around 12:30 p.m. near the Carolina Forest Recreation Center.
Horry County Fire Rescue Public Information Officer Mark Nugent says Smith was near the rec center flying his personal drone prior to going missing. Before Smith’s body was discovered, crews worked diligently in hopes of rescuing the man.
“Gentleman was here flying his drone. His personal vehicle, he drove here. They found the vehicle here when the family went looking for him,” describes Nugent. “What we’re thinking is, potentially, is that the drone went down and he went looking for it. It’s a heavily wooded area, but we’re in a rescue situation right now.”
Prior to finding Smith’s body, officers requested residents of Plantation Lakes or The Farm neighborhoods of Carolina Forest who had home surveillance cameras contact police in hopes the video could help them in the search. Police have not released an exact location of where Smith was found.
“At daybreak, we started flying drones from both police department and fire,” confirms Nugent. “We’ve since brought a lot of extra resources in. Horry County Fire Rescue, Horry County Police Department, we’ve got our partners from Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue are here assisting us as well as Lifenet. They brought their helicopter to do some searches.”
Rescue crews searched on foot, ATVs and helicopters before Smith was discovered.
A cause of death has not been released.
