The 16-year-old son of a Georgia State Patrol officer drowned while swimming with a friend Saturday afternoon.
Stephen Fishel, 16, was pronounced dead at 5:33 p.m. nearly a mile from the Hammond's Ferry boat ramp in North Augusta, said Richmond County Deputy Coroner Johnny McDonald.
The Augusta teenager and his friend were swimming toward an area in the Savannah River called "Goat Island" about 1:30 p.m., Mr. McDonald said.
Stephen began to swim back in the opposite direction and eventually went under before he reached his destination.
Richmond County Fire Department and Dive Team spent hours searching for Stephen's body.
It was originally believed that another person had drowned near the Boathouse Center on Riverfront Drive, but Mr. McDonald confirmed that the family had gathered there while waiting for news about the teenager.
His father, State Patrol Officer Richard Fishel, was one of the many people at the boathouse Saturday evening.
Stephen Fishel's body will be sent to the GBI Crime Lab in Atlanta for an autopsy this morning.
Reach Stephanie Toone at (706) 823-3215 or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010. All Rights Reserved.
A sad and tragic accident to such a wonderful family and person. Trooper Fishel is and always has been an excellent and very proud and caring person & father. My sympathies go out to the family and all involved with this tragedy.
Stephen was just like his parents. Rich and Melanie are both very good people. Stephen was definately following his dads footsteps to become a fine man just like his dad. My prayers go out to the entire family.
this is horrible............Young people arent supposed to die.
I feel for the officer and his family :( God bless u through this horrible time
May God bless the Fishel family. I'm so very sorry for your loss!
Rich, you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
A very sad accident...my thoughts and prayers are with the family..........................
God bless you. The river can be a dangerous place. I used to swim in it when I was young.
My couisin, Timothy also went home to be with the Lord at a young age. His homegoing service is today. May God continue to bless the families of these young innocent angels who are safely in God's bosom with Lazarius. Let's pray and believe God for a miraculous healing for the families, friends, and everyone else. Father, in the matchless name of Jesus, we come to you now asking for your supernatural and miraculous strength at this time. We are standing in the need of help. Lord, help our families to gain understanding. You said in your word that to die is GODLY GAIN. You also said in your word that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Now we are assured that Stephen is with you. We must prepare to meet Stephen in Heaven knowing that we know not the day or hour when you may come for us. Help us to be prepared Lord. We are believers and saved because we believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and that he was raised from the dead on the third day. Romans 10:9,10 THANK YOU LORD FOR WRITING STEPHEN'S AND TIMOTHY'S NAMES IN LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE. May we live according to your word through obedience then our names will remain written there by you as well.
Lord, let us continue to walk in UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AS YOU LOVE US. We will FOREVER give your name the glory, the honor, and the praise. These and other blessings we pray in Jesus name Amen. Amen Amen........
Son of God, your a mess. Put down your Bible and get a life.
Oh Fedup you get a life!! Free country the last I heard. If you dont like what he is saying just dont read it plain and simple.
Fedup, seems Son of God HAS a life much richer than yours. This is truly sad. I had a friend i high school that drowned in the Ocmulgee River because the HS principal kicked all of us seniors out of school for the day who came to school bare footed as a senior prank. Don't believe the principal, A.J (Duck) Swann was ever forgiven by any of us.
Stephen was a wonderful young man... every morning he would come by and say good morning... he would later peek his head in at Lunch to say hi and do you need any help... then at the end of the day after he took the flags down with his buddy Joey, they would both come by and talk with us. Stephen was a quiet ,reserved, respectful young man... when he did speak it was short and he knew exactly what to say... he had a very suttle witt to him... one that if you weren't listining , you would of missed it... he always left you with a smile!! He graced us with his belief in God and will leave a void at Tutt.. he was such a great Kid!!! We will truely miss him...may God watch over his family and friends!! We miss you Stephen Fishel!!!
I lost a son at age 17 so I know how his parents are feeling, so those of you who are writing in to just see your name-- if you can't say something to help the pain these people are feeling-- DON'T SAY ANYTHING! THEY DON'T NEED IDIOTS LIKE YOU!
I don't know you, Rich and Melanie, but my heart goes out to you and I will be praying for you. Bereaved Parents helped me a lot. Don't be too proud to ask for help. Ask when you need it, but be strong enough to tell people when you want to be alone.
Rich and Melanie, I will be thinking of and praying for your family. I am very sorry for your loss.
To the Fishel Family, may God bless and comfort you!
How can anyone post nasty comments over a tragidy like this, get a life fedup......seems instead of just being fedup in augusta that you are fedup and down with the whole world.,
I couldn't believe it when I heard the news. I always had so much fun babysitting Stephen. We had a lot of good trips to visit Melanie at work at the mall, sometimes we'd go to the dollar store and he'd be so excited to pick out a toy, he'd always try to talk me into buying him just one more. I usually couldn't tell him no. He was such a sweet boy and I mourn for the family. I love y'all very much and I'm praying continuously for you all. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed. A refuge in times of trouble. Ps. 9:9
storiesihaveread, about the same priciple for the Adult book store us taxpayers are about to pay millons to. Dont like it dont go there.
removed for violation, I dont understand why my comment was removed I just told someone to put down their book and get a life.
I saw the dive team pull his body from the river. It's not like I don’t understand the severity of the situation. But I still don’t understand why my comment was deleted.