Tragic Accident in South Carolina

An 83-year-old woman tragically lost her life in a devastating accident in a century-old house in South Carolina. The incident occurred when the woman fell through rotting floorboards and down a well shaft that the owner was unaware of, according to authorities.

Rescue efforts were launched immediately, but it took nearly four hours to retrieve the woman's body from the 48-foot deep hole, as reported by Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis in a statement.

The victim has been identified as 83-year-old Dorothy Louise Downey, who was assisting her daughter in packing up and moving from the house in Salem. Property records indicate that the house was built in 1920, Addis stated.

After an extensive search, firefighters were able to locate the woman and bring her back to the surface. The coroner determined that she succumbed to injuries sustained from the fall.

Addis declared the death an accident and said he has never seen a death like this in his 31 years as coroner in Oconee County, which is about 40 miles west of Greenville.