6-year-old boy dies after being caught in rip current along SC beach

FOLLY BEACH, S.C. — A South Carolina coroner said a 6-year-old boy has died after he was reportedly caught in a rip current while playing in the water along Folly Beach last Sunday.

The Charleston County Coroner’s Office says Ian Hernandez, of Ladson, was pronounced dead Monday at the Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital.

Officials told our news partner WCIV Hernandez was swept away while playing in a “no swimming” area in Folly Beach County Park between 6:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.

According to a Charleston County Parks and Recreation spokesperson, lifeguards were not on duty at the time because their shifts had ended at 6 p.m.

Beachgoers attempted to rescue the boy and he was brought back to shore unresponsive. Witnesses said an off-duty nurse performed CPR on the child on the beach until he could be taken to the hospital by an ambulance.

Rip currents along coast create dangerous conditions Rip currents along coast create dangerous conditions

The Post and Courier reports an autopsy has been scheduled to confirm a cause of death. The coroner’s office said Folly Beach Public Safety is investigating.

Officials told WCIV there were several other rescues in the same area around the same time including an adult woman and an 8-year-old boy, who were both caught in rip currents.

Cox Media Group