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A prominent Upstate physician drowned following an apparent electrocution on Monday evening as he swam in Lake Hartwell in Anderson County, South Carolina, local officials are confirming.
Marshall L. Meadors, 65, died “as a result of freshwater drowning possibly secondary to electrocution,” a release from county coroner Greg Shore noted. His death remains under investigation.
Located on the border of Georgia and South Carolina, Lake Hartwell was created by the construction of the Hartwell Dam in 1963. The fourth-largest lake in the Palmetto State, it has a surface area of more than 56,000 acres and is a popular spot for fishermen given its concentration of bream, catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass and walleye.
Meadors lived on a section of the lake located just north of Sadlers Creek State Park.
A primary care physician specializing in family medicine, Meadors graduated from Wofford College in 1979. He obtained his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Meadors’ brother, John Meadors, is an assistant attorney general who gained nationwide fame for his starring role in the double homicide trial of convicted killer Alex Murdaugh.
According to Shore, an autopsy has been scheduled to “assist in the investigation.”
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Meadors was recovered from Lake Hartwell shortly after 8:00 p.m. EDT on Monday evening after he was found “on the bottom of the lake in approximately 8-10 feet of water.” The doctor had been missing for “approximately thirty minutes” prior to his body being discovered.
Emergency responders attempted to revive him, but Meadors was pronounced dead on arrival at AnMed.
Shore’s office said it suspected electrocution prior to drowning due to “some exposed electrical wires on an electrical box providing power to the dock in which (Meadors) was swimming.”
According to the release (.jpg), these wires may have caused “an electrical shock” which could have been “a contributory cause of the decedent drowning.”
Whatever happened, our thoughts and prayers go out to Meadors’ family and friends – especially his wife – as they deal with the unexpected passing of their loved one. We hope they receive comfort – and closure – as they mourn this tragic loss of life.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children.
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