A Kenyan tragically lost his life on Sunday, June 18th, after drowning in the Congaree River while swimming.
According to Richland County Coroner Gary Watts, Fredrick Ochieng Babu, 35, of Andrews, SC, died from asphyxiation due to drowning in the river.
Ochieng was swimming together with three of his colleagues in river Congaree when the water overpowered them.
A person who was nearby noticed their distress and was able to save two of them. One was able to reach some nearby rocks that helped him gain control and get to the dry land.
Ochieng went under water and was not seen again.
Rescue teams in the area searched for Ochieng until late Sunday evening and continued on Monday with no success.
On Tuesday, June 20th, the dive team recovered his body near downtown Columbia in the same area where he went missing.
Ochieng leaves behind a young daughter and his family is pleading seeking help to repatriate his body to Kenya for burial.
”With a heavy heart, I ask for your help to get his remains repatriated back to Kenya. Anyone who knew Babu, knows that he had a huge heart and would help anyone who needed it. Please consider helping his family in this time of need.” read part of a message posted by his family on a Gofundme page.
Please support this family by donating on this Gofundme link: https://www.gofundme.com/fund-raiser-for-fred-babu
