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HARRELLSVILLE – An afternoon swim ended tragically near here Sunday.

Hertford County Sheriff Dexter Hayes said 31-year-old Kendall Lamont Wills of Edenton drowned in the Wiccacon River near the NC Wildlife Boat landing, located at the end of Old Ferry Road.

Hayes added that no foul play was involved with the drowning.

“There were two individuals at the boat landing when we got to the scene at around 7:20 pm,” Hayes said. “We learned that Mr. Wills had jumped into the river, but was unable to stay afloat and began panicking. The two individuals on the shore said they attempted to help him, but were unable to do.”

Hertford County Emergency Medical Services Director James Broglin told the R-C News-Herald that emergency responders searched the river for several hours before recovering the body at around 10:35 p.m. Broglin said the body was found approximately 500 feet from the pier at the boat landing.

Boats from the Harrellsville and Winton fire departments along with one from Hertford County Emergency Management were used in the search, Broglin said.

“The search was contained to the area near the boat landing,” Broglin stated.

The victim’s body was taken to the state Medical Examiner’s office in Greenville for an autopsy.

Other agencies responding to the scene were the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office, Hertford County EMTs, and officers with the North Carolina Wildlife Commission.