A woman dining with her husband on the patio of a South Carolina restaurant died Saturday, after being struck by a flying umbrella due to strong winds, according to the Clarendon County Coroner’s Office.
Clarendon County first responders were dispatched Saturday night to the Driftwood Grill Home of the Lazy Gator restaurant, in the town of Summerton, S.C., News 19 WLTX reported Monday.
Clarendon County coroner Jacqueline Blackwell told News 19 WLTX that it was “not an everyday occurrence.”
“Our condolences to the family. It was just a tragic, unfortunate accident,” Blackwell said in a phone interview with CTVNews.ca Wednesday. She said South Carolina experiences many storms, but the death was unusual.
The case is being investigated as “an accident,” according to the coroner’s office press release shared with CTVNews.ca Wednesday.
It stated that a “sudden strong wind” blew an umbrella from a table, striking the woman in the head and neck area.
The first responders could not revive Dana Winger, 56, of Huger, S.C., who had suffered head and neck injuries, the press release stated.
Emergency managers are reviewing official weather data when strong wind gusts were reported, according to Blackwell.
“There was a strong, strong wind, like a microburst that came through and knocked not just the umbrella,” Blackwell told News 19 WLTX. “It knocked all of the furniture and other debris came onto where they were sitting.”
However, wind measuring devices did not pick up any significant winds during that time, according to News 19 WLTX ‘s weather team.
The restaurant owners told News 19 WLTX on Monday that grief counselling was offered to the family, staff, and the community.
“Out of respect for the family and those impacted, we ask for continued prayers, compassion, and privacy during this incredibly difficult time,” the restaurant said in a statement posted online.
An autopsy is scheduled on Wednesday, according to the coroner’s office press release.
With files from News 19 WLTX’s Meagan Daukshus
