Elbert County Coroner Chuck Almond said Monday morning he will wait on an autopsy report that should shed light on the cause of death regarding a fisherman who died on Lake Russell early Sunday evening.
Almond pronounced Paul Young, 67, of Anderson, South Carolina dead at 7:28 p.m. at the scene at a point just north of Pickens Point about a half-mile south of the Georgia Highway 368 bridge that connects Georgia and South Carolina.
Almond said an emergency call came to Elbert County EMS at 6:13 p.m. and that the initial report was a “drowning,” but Almond added that drowning may not be determined as the cause of death.
Young and a fishing partner were fishing about 20 yards off the Elbert County shoreline, according to Almond.
“He (Young) was fishing and his partner said (Young) was in trouble,” said Almond. “The partner said (Young) had a medical emergency while he was fishing and he fell in the water.”
Almond said the partner was able to get a life jacket to Young and that the partner was able to get in the water and help Young.
The Elbert County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement Monday morning stating that Elbert County and Iva, South Carolina first responders found Young “deceased” at the edge of the water at Pickens Point.
The sheriff’’s statement also said the fishing partner tried to assist Young “back to the boat.”
Almond said the Elbert County Dive Team, Elbert County Water Rescue, Elbert County Emergency Medical Services, the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources assisted with the incident.