Twenty people fall into the water after dock collapses at South Carolina restaurant

Updated: Jun. 30, 2019 at 10:08 AM EDT
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MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) - Twenty people fell into the water after a dock collapsed at a restaurant in Mount Pleasant Saturday evening, according to police.

Mount Pleasant police say it happened at The Wreck of the Richard and Charlene located on 106 Haddrell Street off Shem Creek.

Inspector Chip Googe with MPPD said it was believed that everyone was out of the water but a diver checked the area to make sure.

Three people were transported to the hospital by EMS with minor injuries.

“Town police and fire personnel responded and assisted people out of the water,” Mayor Will Haynie said. “All appear accounted for.”

Taylor Grooms said the group was there to celebrate a friend’s 30th birthday and were going to take a picture when it all happened.

“We were getting lined up, and all of the sudden we heard a loud crack,” Grooms said.

According to Grooms, the dock then collapsed but he and a few others managed to hold onto the side.

Grooms said everyone appeared to be okay and was thankful that it was low tide or “it could have been much worse.”

20 people fall into the water after dock collapses in Mt. Pleasant

This is video of the rescue of the people who fell into Shem Creek after a dock collapsed at a restaurant in Mount Pleasant. The video was taken by Taylor Grooms who said the group had been getting ready to take a picture when they heard a loud crack. STORY >>> https://www.live5news.com/2019/06/30/police-twenty-people-fall-into-water-after-dock-collapses-mt-pleasant-restaurant/

Posted by Live 5 News on Saturday, June 29, 2019

Kristen Holladay was one of the people who attended the party and fell into the water.

“A good bit of us fell into Shem Creek! ‘Birthday with a splash’ is what we’re calling it,” said Holladay who said that everyone was okay following the incident.

Holladay said she was a little scared because she didn’t know what was going on as the dock slowly collapsed.

But she said everyone was okay and continuing the birthday party.

“Truthfully a lot of us were laughing in the water hoping we got it on video because it’s amusing,” she said. “It’s your 30th birthday, you’re celebrating and some folks fall into the water.”

She said the biggest loss of the group was that a few people lost their cellphones.

James “Bubba” Smith said his workers were able to rescue the group in the water since they were nearby working.

“It was pretty scary, because they said the dock had collapsed next door,” Smith said."It sort of looked like the movie Titanic."

Three people were transported to the hospital by EMS with minor injuries.
Three people were transported to the hospital by EMS with minor injuries.

Smith said eight of his workers were able to get everybody out of the water, and was thankful they were nearby.

“I think it could’ve been a lot worse if they weren’t there,” he said. “They did a good job.”

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