Lexington County Lake Murray was shaken on Saturday night after a sudden accident at a dock near the Irmo side of the dam left a Columbia man dead. The victim has been identified as Travers Antonio Berry, 50, of Columbia.
Berry was on a boat earlier in the evening with friends and family, spending what began as a normal night on the water. Things turned tragic after the group returned to shore near the 2100 block of North Lake Drive.
According to officials, Berry stepped off the boat and bent down to put on his shoes when he accidentally fell into the water. The fall happened quickly and without warning.
Emergency calls came in around 9 p.m., prompting a fast response from local rescue teams. Bystanders and firefighters from the Irmo Fire District rushed to the scene and began searching immediately.
Despite early rescue attempts, Berry could not be located at first. The situation escalated as water conditions and visibility made the search more difficult.
The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department dive team later took over the operation. After an extended search, Berry was recovered from beneath the dock around 11 p.m. and pronounced dead at the scene.
Officials from multiple agencies, including the coroner’s office and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, are still reviewing the circumstances. Authorities say the incident appears accidental, though the investigation remains open.
Family members and friends are now left in shock, remembering Berry as a valued presence in their lives. The community around Columbia is also mourning a life lost in a moment that unfolded too fast to stop.
