PAWLEYS ISLAND — The Pawleys Island Police Department confirmed a man drowned in an attempt to help troubled swimmers on July 13.
Police received a call at 4:45 p.m. about swimmers in distress in front of the Litchfield Plantation House on Atlantic Avenue, according to a release and the incident report. When they arrived, police were informed by a woman that her husband, 38-year-old Chase Childers of Georgia, had gone into the ocean in an attempt to help other swimmers but had not returned.
Another witness told police Childers went into the ocean and that the witness was unable to help Childers back to shore.
Police and Midlands Fire Rescue searched the area with swimmers and watercraft. The Coast Guard assisted with a helicopter.
A Midway Fire Rescue swimmer eventually found Childers’ body around 6:15 p.m.
PIPD said Childers and another individual entered the ocean on Sunday to help four to five individuals who were in distress before Childers got caught in a rip tide.
“He died trying to save others,” Pawleys Island PD posted about the incident in an update on July 15.
According to the incident report, all of the individuals Childers went to help made it back to shore safely.
“The Town is saddened by the report of the drowning over the weekend,” Mayor Brian Henry said in a July 14 statement offering prayers for Childers’ family and praising the efforts of first responders “who worked tirelessly to recover the victim and bring comfort to the family.”
