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NC man drowns at Hunting Island while saving lives of his children
First responder vehicles at North Beach at Hunting Island State Park on Friday, July 4, 2025. Paul Peters, 38, of Indian Trail, N.C., died Friday from drowning. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN
By Mike McCombs and Amber Hewitt The Island News A North Carolina man drowned at Hunting Island State Park just after noon on Friday, July 4, while trying to save his children. The Beaufort County Coroner’s Office, on Saturday morning, identified the deceased as 38-year-old Paul Peters from Indian Trail, N.C. Peters and his wife, Emily, and their two children — Asher, 4, and Ezra, 7 — were in Beaufort County on vacation, according to a source at the scene of the incident. According to witnesses at the scene, around 11:30 a.m., on Hunting Island’s North Beach, Peters
water to help. They were able to get the children to safety, but by the time they could get Peters to After the death of Paul Peters, shore, he had been under the waa GoFundMe fundraiser is being organized by Alison Harper, a ter for some time. friend of the Peters family, and Bystanders started to perform Emily Peters, according to the CPR, and EMS continued the website. Donations will cover “funeral expenses, provide for life-saving efforts upon arrival. immediate living needs, and give According to witnesses, EMS, Emily and the boys the time and “pumped a bunch of water out, but space to begin healing without he never regained consciousness.” the added pressure of financial burdens.” To contribute, visit The Coroner’s Office declared https://bit.ly/4lix4Ra. him dead, on scene, at 12:10 p.m. Sixteen-year-old Taylor Durwas in the water with his children, rance of Beaufort and her family when they got caught in a rip cur- were in the middle of the rescue rent and began to struggle, accord- efforts on Friday. ing to witnesses. Several men went in to the SEE DROWNING PAGE A4 GOFUNDME SET UP FOR PETERS FAMILY
69TH ANNUAL WATER FESTIVAL
LOLITA HUCKABY
It’s not a border but it’s definitely a fence
T
BEAUFORT he newly installed fencing along the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park got a lot of attention last week. But locals should get used to it because it’s probably going to be there for quite a while. City officials announced they were closing a 1,200-foot portion the waterfront promenade Sunday, June 30, after receiving an updated engineering report on the status of the 46-year-old seawall (technically a relieving platform). The closing included the popular day dock and initially, the playground, but a portion of that has been reopened. They actually received the report on Friday, the eve of the 12th annual Beaufort DragonBoat races, an event that drew more than 700 participants, residents and guests to the waterfront park, raising more than $90,000 for the cancer research fundraiser. But without advance notice, the officials, aka City Manager Scott Marshall and his team, opted to wait until Sunday to close the area. Yes, less than two weeks prior to the start of the Beaufort Water Festival. The festival hierarchy, used to dealing with weather
The 69th Annual Beaufort Water Festival Commodore Todd Stowe in front of the newly installed fence at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
It’s back and here’s what you need to know Commodore Todd Stowe, volunteers adapt and overcome
By Delayna Earley first into the first INSIDE The Island News full day of events on Complete Music, food, friendly competitions Saturday, July 12, schedule and 10 days of outdoor fun await with the Raft Race, for Annual Beaufort those who visit downtown Beaufort children’s fishing Water starting on Friday. tournament, badFestival, minton tournament The 69th annual Beaufort Water Page A7 and evening concert Festival will kick off on Friday, July 11 with the Opening Ceremony featuring Chris Janson. Festival coordinators were met and fireworks before diving head-
with difficulties even before the start of the first event due to the closure of a portion of Beaufort’s Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, which is where all of the events for the annual festival are held, due to the area nearest to the seawall being deemed structurally unsafe.
SEE FESTIVAL PAGE A7
SEE LOWDOWN PAGE A6
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St. Helena Island native competes for Team Navy in 2025 Warrior Games.
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