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Cashiers man drowns Sunday in Lake Glenville
By Lynn Hotaling
A 26-year-old Cashiers man apparently drowned Sunday (Aug. 6) in Lake Glenville.
The victim, Celestino Ochoa delos Santos, died around 4:20 p.m., according to Capt. Steve Lillard of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Delos Santos and his brother were in the water near the public day-use area leased by Jackson County near the Glenville Dam when the brother experienced difficulty and became distressed due to waves, Lillard said. The victim assisted his brother to safety but was unable to get himself back to shore, Lillard said. Reports indicate that neither brother could swim, he said.
According to Officer Mike Johnson of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, a large ski boat towing a skier that passed some 50 feet from the brothers and a woman wading with them was the source of the waves that resulted in delos Santos’ death. The three were standing in water up to their necks when the boat passed, sending water over their heads; one man went under and the other two people helped him to safety, but the second man disappeared under the water, according to what Johnson said he learned after arriving at the lake.
The wildlife officer, who said he was called to the area after the incident to help keep boats away from that part of the lake while divers retrieved delos Santos’ body, did not conduct the investigation into delos Santos’ death.
Wildlife officers only investigate drownings if a boat is involved, Johnson said.
Both the Glenville-Cashiers and Jackson County rescue squads assisted in the effort to retrieve the victim’s body, Lillard said. Law enforcement officials are awaiting an autopsy report, but all indications are that the victim drowned, he said.
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