A 56 year old woman in South Carolina died Saturday evening. She was hit by a patio umbrella that blew away in the wind while she was eating at a restaurant by Lake Marion.
According to the Daily Voice, the accident happened around 7:40 p.m. at the Driftwood Grill. This is a waterfront restaurant on Lake Marion in Summerton. The Clarendon County Coroner’s office identified the woman as Dana Winger from Huger, South Carolina. She was eating outside on the patio with her husband when the weather suddenly changed and brought strong winds to the area.
Officials said that a powerful gust of wind pulled a patio umbrella from a nearby table and sent it flying in the air. The umbrella hit Winter, causing serious injuries to her head and neck.
Junior Yasmine Bourazki said, “I heard something like this happen a few years ago, and I just thought it was super weird that it happened again. It’s very tragic and sad to hear that somebody had to die from something so unusual.”
Emergency workers from the fire department, police, and ambulance teams rushed to the scene after getting a call about the injury. When they arrived, Winger was not responding. The medical workers tried to save her life using standard emergency procedures, but they could not revive her. The coroner’s office announced her death at the restaurant about an hour after the first emergency call.
Sophomore Hailey Tucker said, “I think that this situation is unfortunate and uncalled for. You never know what will happen next to you, and it can be the most randomest thing ever, which is why you should live life to its fullest.”
The restaurant shared a message on social media about the accident, confirming that it happened during a sudden storm. The managers showed their deepest sympathy to the woman’s family. They said the accident was very sad for the guests and staff. The restaurant stayed closed on Monday to hold a support meeting with local employees and community members.
The local sheriff’s department said they are treating the case as an accidental death. A medical university will perform an autopsy to find the exact cause of the death. Officials said no one else was hurt by the sudden wind.
