A South Carolina man died on Saturday after being swept over Rainbow Falls while trying to save his dog, according to officials.
The man was visiting the falls with his wife, said Cathy Dowd, U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman.
"He was in the river about 100 feet away from the top of the falls when he slipped and was caught in the current, which carried him over the falls," Dowd said Saturday evening. On Sunday, Lake Toxaway Fire Chief Carmon West identified the man as John Shaffer, 42, of Charleston. West said Shaffer had gone into the water to chase after his dog.
West said his team arrived first on the scene at 10:30 a.m. after reports of an accident.
Six agencies — about 35 people — were involved in the rescue-turned-recovery, which took 5.5 hours, he said. The man's body was recovered in the Horsepasture River. Firefighter Duane Allen said earlier Saturday that other departments on scene included Rosman, Connestee, Balsam Grove and Henderson County.