Woman drowned while tubing on Catawba River, Rock Hill police say

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Rock Hill police are investigating the drowning of a woman on the Catawba River Saturday.

Police believe it was a tubing accident, but the man who was with 44-year-old Christie Shipley told officers he went to a friend's home and drank beer before calling 911.

Rock Hill police are waiting on toxicology results since they said both people had been drinking. They are also looking for anyone who might have seen the couple on the river late Saturday night.

A dive team recovered Shipley’s body Sunday morning about 200 yards from where the two were supposed to get out of the water.

Once concern for police is the delay between when Shipley disappeared and when the man tubing with her reported her missing.

According to the man with Shipley before she drowned, she continuously jumped off her tube and went swimming, even though he warned her that the river was dangerous.

He said she disappeared as they were getting out of the river at River Park.

The man told police that after he realized she was gone, he changed clothes, walked back to his truck at the Pump House Restaurant to get his cellphone, but called a friend instead of police, saying he had too much anxiety at the time.

He later called police after having a few beers with friends.

Police found his truck still at the Pump House Restaurant at River Walk, and inside found surgical gloves in zip lock bags.

This afternoon, police couldn't speculate about what happened.

"It’s being classified as an accidental drowning, but we're looking into all the circumstances," Capt. Mark Bollinger said.

On Monday, Brad Grishaber was getting ready to take people on a river trip, towing a trailer stacked with kayaks and blowing up tubes.

As a guide, he sees lots of people drinking when he's out there.

"A lot of alcohol is a big problem. People not respecting the river," he said.  "It’s really, really bad on weekends."

After more than a half dozen drownings in the area this summer, there are new concerns about lake and river safety.

Signs posted at River Park say no alcohol and no swimming.

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