CAMDEN, S.C. — A teen has died after initially being rescued from a lake in Camden on Saturday.
According to Kershaw County Coroner David West, 13-year-old Jaelyn Wells was pronounced dead at around 6:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Authorities said previously that Wells had been swimming at Kendall Lake in Camden when he went under for an extended period of time around 2:30 p.m. the previous day. First responders rushed to the scene and he was soon recovered by a Kershaw County Rescue Squad diver.
Wells was then rushed to Medical University of South Carolina Kershaw and then flown to Prisma Health Richland Hospital for treatment but, as the coroner confirmed on Sunday, he did not survive.
Coroner West said that Wells was swimming with his friends and a brother at the time. West said that the child was a Camden Middle School student and a football player. He was about to start classes at Camden High School.
Camden Middle School Principal Casey Faulkenberry said of Wells, "The CMS family is deeply saddened at the loss of Jaelyn. He was a young man with an infectious energy that was appreciated by his peers and staff. He could get along with anyone and loved to be active. Some of our fondest memories will be the pickup football games or other activities at recess that Jaelyn was always in the center of and having a great time. We will truly miss his energy and enthusiasm for life. It is always a tragedy to lose someone so young, and we pray for strength and comfort for his family."