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A South Carolina woman has died after being hit in the head and neck by a floating umbrella at a restaurant in South Carolina over the weekend, local authorities have confirmed.
The woman, identified as 56-year-old Dana Winger, was dining out on the patio of Driftwood Grill in Somerton, South Carolina, along Lake Marion, when she was killed on Saturday, May 23, the Clarendon County Coroner’s Office said in a news release sent to USA TODAY.
That night around 7:40 p.m., someone called dispatchers about a laceration, according to a news release. Clarendon Ambulance Service and Fire and Rescue Service came to the rescue, as did police officers.
Authorities found Winger unresponsive and noticed he had lacerations to his head and neck.
“Paramedics followed protocol but were unable to resuscitate her,” the coroner said in a news release. “Suddenly a strong wing flew an umbrella off the table and it hit (the winger).”
The medical examiner’s office pronounced her dead about an hour after the first call for help. The coroner said there were no other injuries that day.
The coroner said in a news release that an autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, and that the incident is being investigated as an accident.
‘This is seriously impacting many people in our community’: Restaurants and community members respond to tragedy
Driftwood Grill, where the incident occurred, posted multiple posts on Facebook after the woman’s death, the first being on Sunday night, the day after her death.
“Our hearts go out to the families, friends, and loved ones affected by last night’s tragic incident on Lake Marion due to sudden severe weather,” the restaurant wrote. “This incident has had a profound impact on many in our community, including our guests, staff, first responders, and everyone involved. We respect the family and those affected and ask for your continued prayers, compassion, and privacy during this incredibly difficult time.”
On Monday, May 25, the restaurant thanked the Clarendon County Fire Department, Fire Marshal’s Office and other agencies that responded to the scene and assisted. The restaurant said Monday there was an outpouring of support for the restaurant and area residents, and Winger’s death had a deep impact on many people in the area, including first responders.
“Today’s support session meant more than words can express to the many people affected emotionally by the events of that night,” the restaurant wrote.
Winger’s loved ones shared photos of him after learning of his death. One Facebook user said Ms Winger was a second mother to her children.
“I miss her so much,” the user wrote. “This woman…is not a friend. She is family. She is a second mother to my children. I will never recover from this situation. It hurts more than I could have imagined.”
Another user shared a photo of Winger and said she worked actively to support them for more than a decade.
“Dana, I promise to make sure your dad and our lake family are okay too,” the user wrote. “You both had such a huge impact on everyone you touched, and there is nothing in the world that can make up for what happened.”
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s Trends team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia (757). Email sdmartin@usatoday.com.
