A young man providing lawn care services at a West Lake home drowned Wednesday after falling into a pool while blowing leaves, according to Columbia County authorities.
Keontae Alston, 22, of Hephzibah, was wearing a backpack yard blower, which contributed to the drowning, Coroner Vernon Collins said.
Alston was working at the house on Honors Way in Martinez when the incident occurred. He was wearing multiple layers of clothes and the blower on his back when he fell into the swimming pool. The homeowner and the victim’s co-worker, Milton Blount with The Manicurist Lawn Care, discovered the drowning victim and pulled him from the pool, removing his backpack yard blower, according to a Columbia County sheriff’s report.
Life-saving measures were attempted until Gold Cross arrived, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Alston was part of a crew of workers at the house.
Greg Rickabaugh is the Jail Report contributor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at greg.rickabaugh@theaugustapress.com
