North Myrtle Beach drowning victim identified
A 36-year-old man drowned in the ocean near North Myrtle Beach Saturday afternoon, authorities said.
Lewis Barkley III of Summerville was pronounced dead shortly before 5:15 p.m. at McLeod Seacoast hospital, said Horry County Deputy Coroner Darris Fowler. Fowler said the drowning has been ruled accidental.
Barkley entered the ocean near 1st Avenue North, said Pat Dowling, spokesman for the City of North Myrtle Beach. When he didn’t return, his wife began looking for him.
Barkley’s body was found floating near 6th Avenue North. Emergency crews worked on him for an hour but could not revive him.
Dowling the said the victim served in the U.S. Air Force for many years and has four children. His wife’s birthday is Sunday.
Contact CHARLES D. PERRY at 626-0218 or on Twitter @TSN_CharlesPerr.
This story was originally published July 4, 2015 at 6:43 PM with the headline "North Myrtle Beach drowning victim identified."