Ware Shoals drowning victim identified by coroner

A drowning victim at Irvin Pitts Memorial Park in Ware Shoals was identified late Monday by the Laurens County Coroner’s Office.

Chief Deputy Coroner Patti Canupp said the victim was identified as Armada Alvarez-Munez, a 38-year-old native of Colombia. He was swimming in the Saluda River at the park around 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

Canupp said she spoke through a translator to the victim’s wife in Colombia. His wife told Canupp that Alvarez-Munez was working in the U.S. to provide income for their large family.

Alvarez-Munez was the second to drown in that area of the river in the past three weeks.

On June 23, Juan Otoniel Antonio Simon, 23, drowned in the area that has proved dangerous for swimmers due to rocks and quick currents.

In May of 2022 two men drowned in as many days at Pitts Park. Heavy rains then increased the speed of river currents. Bernard Mason, 19, of Greenwood and Saul Diaz Luna, 43, of Laurens drowned.