BEAUFORT, S.C (WSAV) – Billy Keyserling, former mayor of Beaufort, was injured in a boating accident on the Beaufort River on Saturday, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
DNR officials said they responded to the accident around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
According to Beaufort Fire officials, Keyserling and his brother were pulled from the water. The woman who apparently performed CPR during the rescue posted about what happened on social media.
“Today started out like any other normal day,” Lexie Murray Benton wrote, adding, “Things quickly turned for the worse.”
She said her husband and their friends quickly jumped into action to help get the men to safety. They were taken to a nearby dock where fire and EMS personnel were on the scene to then take them to the hospital.
“#bcscems would like to thank you and all of the individuals who jumped in to action to assist another in need,” Beaufort County Emergency Medical Services commented on Benton’s post. “This quick thinking, along with administration of CPR, assisted with improving this individual’s survival chance.”
Stephen Murray, current Beaufort mayor, said Keyserling is out of the ICU and in good spirits.
Keyserling, 73, was first elected mayor of Beaufort in 2008 and ran unopposed in 2012 and 2016.
The South Carolina DNR is investigating the incident.