COLUMBIA, S.C. — One person is dead following an incident at an old quarry in Columbia.
Brenda Holmes, a resident of the Tropical Ridge apartment complex, recalls hearing the commotion behind her house that left one swimmer dead on Sunday.
"My grandson said, 'Somebody is screaming and saying help.' I looked out my back window and saw some commotion going on down there," she said.
A spokesperson for the Columbia Fire Department said they were called to the area of Tropical Ridge Apartments for a water rescue from a former quarry. Officials confirmed that one body was recovered from the water, and three other people were rescued and didn't need to be taken to the hospital.
" 'Help is on the way, help is on the way. Hang on, hang on,' he kept saying, 'hang on, hang on'," she says.
On Sunday afternoon, there was a large police and fire department presence by the old quarry shortly after officials said the death occurred.
Akeem Nicholas lives directly in front of the quarry. He said it's a popular spot for young people looking for an adrenaline rush.
"It's normal to see them out there, summertime, spring break," he said. "They'll get up there, jump, have fun, have friends out there, have a little get-together. They'll jump."
"Once I saw the police, I knew something bad had happened," he added. "So I stopped, asked what was going on, and they said somebody drowned, so it kinda shocked me."
Holmes said she also frequently sees young people jumping into the water.
"You'll see them walking right past my kitchen window; you'll see them go down there," she said. "I'm like, 'There they go again.' Sometimes, it's 20 college guys and some women down there."
It's not clear how this particular group accessed the location.
Nicholas said his heart breaks for the family dealing with this terrible news on Easter.
"It's bad it happened on Easter day, on Good Sunday," he said. "Today was a beautiful day, but now a life has been lost in the water. I hate that for them."
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
