An 18-year-old South Carolina man died Sunday while swimming with friends, according to the Cherokee County Coroner's Office.

Coroner Dennis Fowler said it appears as if Berry Rashsan Palmer of Cowpens, S.C., drowned in the Broad River. The incident was reported about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, near the Wolf Den Road access area about 5 miles north of Gaffney.

Authorities said Palmer, a rising senior at Gaffney High School, went to the Broad River with friends to swim.

Fowler said witnesses reported Palmer and others were jumping into the water after swinging from a rope tied to a tree on shore. Palmer jumped into the water but failed to resurface.

"Several of the friends tried to pull Berry up, but their efforts were futile," Fowler said.

The body was recovered in about 20 feet of water at about 8 p.m. Fowler said family members reported that Palmer was not a good swimmer.