Sumter County Recovers Drowning Victim in 15 Minutes with AquaEye
AquaEye drastically reduced search time— from 4 hours to 5 minutes.
Sumter County Fire was called to assist in a drowning incident in the small town of Ashburn, Georgia. Multiple agencies, including the Department of Natural Resources and local dive teams, had already been on scene conducting an extensive search. After four hours of side scan sonar operations and jack stay dive patterns, the victim remained missing.
When Theo Baldwin of Sumter County Fire arrived, he immediately began a scan with AquaEye handheld sonar. The first sweep came back clear. Boarding a boat, Baldwin moved into the area where witnesses last saw the individual go under. Within five minutes of scanning, AquaEye identified an “X” marker—its indicators for potential targets. Switching to medium range for confirmation, Baldwin received a positive X hit again.
Organization Name
Sumter County Fire
Location
Ashburn, Georgia
Key insights
From the moment he arrived on scene to the time the victim was located was 5 minutes. From the time of arrival on scene until the victim was recovered on the riverbank, the total duration was just 15 minutes and 22 seconds.
This rapid recovery contrasted sharply with the previous four hours of unsuccessful search efforts using traditional methods. AquaEye not only saved time and resources but also reduced the risk to rescue personnel operating in the recently lethal water.
Sumter County’s experience demonstrates the transformational impact AquaEye can have in time-critical rescue and recovery missions. For Baldwin and his team, the device has proven to be a vital tool—cutting through uncertainty, accelerating response, and supporting safer, more effective operations.
