Coroner identifies man missing in water near Little River

LITTLE RIVER, SC (WMBF) - The Horry County Coroner's Office has identified the man that went missing in the waters off Little River on Sunday, April 21.

That man has been identified by the Horry County Coroner's Office as 26-year-old Kurtis Hutchinson of Murrells Inlet.

Deputy Coroner Tony Hendrick confirms Hutchinson died of massive trauma after being struck by a boat and propellers.

Department of Natural Resources has taken over the search of a man who went missing in the water in the Little River Inlet on Sunday afternoon at around 1:00 p.m.

On Monday, April 22 two divers began to search B&W Marina north towards Bird Island, where the accident first occurred.

Petty Officer Potter said she believes five people were on the shore when their pontoon boat began drifting off. One of the women told the USCG that her fiance went into the water to try and get the boat. The woman said she turned around for a moment, and when she looked back, her fiance was gone.

He never resurfaced.

Around the same time, a man was driving his fishing vessel and felt something hit and scrape the bottom of the boat. He believed it was a large animal, and Petty Officer Potter agrees it could have been debris, however, the man was still missing so search efforts began.

Rescue boats and helicopters were on the scene to help search for the man.

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