Pelion High senior Marcus Dwyer drowned Sunday in the Edisto River.

The 18-year-old had been swimming with friends weeks before graduation.

Dwyer’s mother told WISTV her son did not jump but was pushed off the bridge.

According to the Orange-burg County sheriff:

• Deputies were called to the Carson Park Landing about 3:45 pm Sunday near the town of North, where US 321 crosses the Edisto.

• Several young people had been swimming.

• A female witness said one of the male acquaintances had jumped into the river from the bridge and asked Dwyer to jump in.

• After jumping, Dwyer began to struggle, the female witness told deputies.

She saw the acquaintance push Dwyer away until he went under, then the male acquaintance swam to the landing and began looking for Dwyer.

• Dwyer’s friend told deputies the senior swam up to them “and began pulling on their shorts and grabbing at them” and they thought he “was ‘playing around’ and was not serious” until he went under the water and did not come back up.

Dwyer’s body was found just before 6:30 pm.

• An investigation is underway, but so far there is no evidence of foul play.

Dwyer played football, basketball and ran track for the Panthers and was a popular student at the school. He finished second in the long jump at last month’s Region 5-3A meet.

Pelion’s school Twitter page read: “We are saddened by the loss of one of our Panthers. Marcus “ED” Dwyer was a beloved member of our student body. Our condolences to the Dwyer family during this difficult time.”

Lexington District 1 officials said that counselors and psychologists are at the school to help students and staff deal with their loss.