Lake Martin drowning victim found, identified

UPDATE: Victim identified as Thomas F. “Skip” Campbell, 72.

Thomas F. ‘Skip’ Campbell

The victim of a drowning at Lake Martin in Gray Court was identified Wednesday afternoon by the Laurens County Coroner’s Office.

Coroner Patti Canupp identified the victim as Thomas F. “Skip” Campbell, 72, of Enoree. He was reported by a friend to have fallen from a boat Tuesday night.

Emergency crews, including drive teams, responded to a report of a potential drowning Tuesday night on Lake Martin off Highway 92 in Gray Court and began a search for the victim.

The Laurens County Coroner’s Office was also placed on alert, said Canupp.

According to Canupp, Martin fell into the lake and did not resurface.

Dive crews searched the lake for several hours Tuesday night, but were unable to locate the victim. The search was suspended overnight and resumed Wednesday morning.

The S.C. Department of National Resources (SCDNR), Laurens County Fire Departments and the Laurens County Sheriff’s Officewere were involved in the search.