SC father of four drowns in North Myrtle Beach Saturday

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)- North Myrtle Beach crews responded to a drowning near Avista Saturday afternoon.

Deputy Coroner Darris Fowler identifies the victim as 36-year-old Lewis Barkley III of Summerville died at Mcleod Seacoast ER at 5:12 Saturday night.

Public Information Officer Pat Dowling says Barkley entered the ocean around 1st Avenue North and after not returning for awhile his wife alerted city personnel and began looking for him.

Dowling says his body was found floating in the ocean around 6^th Avenue North. City personnel pulled him from the ocean and worked on him for up to an hour to no avail.

Dowling says Barkley served many years with the Air Force, has four children, and his wife’s birthday is Sunday.

NMBPD is investigating victim died due to drowning and was ruled accidental.