The body of a Beech Island man was recovered Sunday from the Savannah River after disappearing the day before while sliding down rocks, authorities said.
Christopher Tommy Bellamy, 35, was recovered with the assistance of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, according to Lt. Junior Johnson with the North Augusta Public Safety.
Bellamy was reportedly kayaking and traveling downstream on the rapids Saturday with another man, Oraceo Rodriguez. The pair then exited the watercraft to wade in the water, a NADPS report says.
“At one point, Mr. Bellamy began sliding down rocks and letting the current take him down the stream,” the report says. “Mr. Bellamy did this several times and eventually went under water. Mr. Rodriguez went in after him.”
Rodriguez swam back to his kayak, lost view of his friend and left in his kayak. DNR officials were called and searched the area for Bellamy.
A witness, 70-year-old Barry Greene, told authorities that he was doing yard work when he noticed two men in yellow and blue kayaks in the Savannah River. They were yelling, and Greene saw Bellamy in the river and Rodriguez in the kayak. The witness went to the bank of the river and saw an overturned blue kayak on the shore of the river along with fishing rods, a paddle and a life jacket. He then called police.
Bellamy’s Tacoma truck was found parked at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion in Martinez.
Kayaking or swimming in the Savannah River in current conditions is extremely dangerous, especially without a life jacket or helmet, said Steve Wright with Savannah Rapids Kayak Rental. His business has not rented kayaks for the river since last fall, only for the Augusta Canal.
“If it’s over 10,000 cubic feet per second, we will not rent,” Wright said Sunday. “It’s currently close to 20,000 cubic feet per second. The Augusta Canal is easy going and family friendly. The river is not.”
