Full Notification

While Sheriff's Office and other marine rescue agencies were searching the area of the Wilton Graves Bridge last night for a man seen by motorists near the guard rail, a man was reported missing by family members from a Mariner's Cove residence. The description of the man, Caucasian and wearing shorts, fit the description of what motorists had reported to Sheriff's Office deputies. 

Sheriff's Office and other marine rescue agencies concluded their search at approximately 11:00 pm last night with the intention to resume the search this morning. Shortly after the search concluded, the man was found walking on the roadway (covered in mud) leading to the Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge by his family members, who then drove him to the Hilton Head Regional Medical Center for an evaluation.

Deputies met with the man at the hospital where he provided an account of what had occurred. The man advised deputies that he had run over the Wilton Graves Bridge toward Pinckney Island from Hilton Head, where he went into the wooded area. The man further advised that while in the woods, he had become covered in mud and sustained some minor cuts on an oyster bed he encountered. The man maintained that he did not jump off of the Wilton Graves Bridge.

Deputies concluded the interview, as the man was to be evaluated further.