Woman caught in rip current nearly drowns on Edisto Beach, fire-rescue officials say

EDISTO ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – A woman was airlifted to the hospital Wednesday after nearly drowning on Edisto Beach.

Emergency crews were dispatched to a location off Palmetto Boulevard around 5:30 p.m. for a person caught in a rip current.

The woman was offshore when emergency crews arrived.

“Medic 14 crewmembers, both marines, donned life vests and entered the ocean. They swam out to the woman and pulled her to shore,” said Colleton County Fire Rescue officials.

The woman had stopped breathing after she was brought back to the beach, but first responders were able to resuscitate her. She was placed on an ATV and taken off the beach to a nearby ambulance.

She was eventually airlifted to the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston. Her condition is unknown.