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South Carolina Natural Resources Divers Recover Body of Missing Aynor Boater in Waccamaw River Crash, With Coroner Saying Foul Play Is Not Suspected

HORRY COUNTY, SC — Officials have identified the person found dead after a boat wreck in the Waccamaw River as 66-year-old John Rabon of Aynor. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said its diving team found him in Prince Creek, closing the search for the missing boater that followed the Wednesday crash.

The update came after crews had already been working the wreck scene and looking for the person who went overboard. The chief deputy coroner said foul play is not suspected, and SCDNR said it is continuing to investigate what happened on the water.

Divers Recover Rabon

SCDNR said its divers located and recovered Rabon from the Prince Creek area of the river. The agency did not release additional details about the recovery in the information provided, but confirmed that the missing person from the wreck had been found dead.

The coroner’s office identified the man as John Rabon, 66, of Aynor. Officials have not said in the statement why the boat wreck occurred or what immediately led to the passenger going overboard, and no other injuries were reported in the information provided.

What Investigators Know

At this point, the case remains an active investigation by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The agency has not announced a cause for the wreck, and no finding has been released about whether mechanical trouble, weather, or another factor played a role.

The chief deputy coroner’s statement that foul play is not suspected is the clearest public assessment so far. That means investigators are not treating the death as a criminal matter, while still working to determine the circumstances of the crash and the recovery in Prince Creek.

Next Steps For Updates

Anyone following the case should check with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources for updates, since that agency is handling the investigation. The coroner’s office may also release additional information if more details become public, including any final findings about the wreck.

For now, officials have confirmed the identity of the victim, the location where he was found, and that foul play is not suspected. They have not released any further public explanation of how the Waccamaw River wreck unfolded or what led to Rabon ending up in the water.

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