A 12-year-old girl had a close call near Bushy Park Boat Landing in Berkeley County on Tuesday afternoon when she went missing after a jet ski incident. The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene around 1 p.m. after the girl’s guardian reported her missing.
The Incident Details
According to investigators, the 12-year-old and her guardian were riding separate jet skis when one of the jet skis broke down. In an attempt to seek help, the child swam toward the boat landing. Unfortunately, the girl had no formal training or a license to operate a jet ski.
The Search and Rescue Effort
The search, which lasted for about an hour, involved multiple agencies, including the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), Joint Base Charleston, the North Charleston Fire Department, and Central Berkeley Fire. The team worked together to find the missing child, who was eventually located in the marshland about 600 yards from the boat ramp.
Discovery and Aftermath
When found, the 12-year-old had cuts and abrasions on her legs. She was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Thankfully, she was found alive, despite hazardous conditions such as strong currents, high winds, and the presence of wildlife.
Arrest and Investigation
The child’s grandmother, Anne Lachell, 53, from Moncks Corner, was arrested in connection with the incident. Investigators revealed that Lachell initially lied about the events. She and her granddaughter had taken separate jet skis, and one of them had broken down, leaving them stranded. Lachell instructed her granddaughter to swim back to the boat landing for help. However, given the dangerous water conditions at the time, the decision to have the child swim was risky.
The South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) was notified about the incident, and further investigations are underway.
After the rescue, Bushy Park Boat Landing has since been reopened to the public. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proper training and caution when operating jet skis, especially in hazardous water conditions.
