A routine day of dive staff coaching for a South Carolina sheriff’s division took a tragic flip when a deputy died throughout underwater workout routines.
Grasp Deputy Jillian Olson, 29, died in an underwater coaching session on Lake Murray on Thursday, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Division mentioned.
A member of the division’s dive staff since 2024, Olson had spent greater than 100 hours underwater, in keeping with officers. The Lexington County Coroner’s Workplace is investigating to find out her trigger and method of dying.
The South Carolina Division of Pure Assets mentioned its Investigations Unit and Aquatics Investigation and Restoration (AIR) staff led restoration efforts and have been assisted by the South Carolina Legislation Enforcement Division. The departments didn’t return The Put up’s requests for remark
“I wish to categorical my due to the numerous public security companies that responded with out hesitation from throughout the entire state to assist us in our time of want,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon mentioned in a press release.
Olson joined the sheriff’s division in 2021 and was promoted to grasp deputy within the warrants division in 2025. A local of Illinois, Olson had a deep ardour for regulation enforcement, Pastor Frank Anderson of St. Michael Lutheran Church advised The Put up.
Anderson, who mentioned he’s recognized Olson and her household for many years, mentioned her calling to serve and defend was knowledgeable by her Christian religion.
“She had a deep religion and I believe that deep religion was the motivation for her to wish to be a helper and serve different folks,” mentioned Anderson of Olson, who he baptized himself.
“She had an altruistic coronary heart,” the pastor added.
The deputy’s resolution to hitch the dive staff was “only one instance of her going above and past,” Sheriff Koon mentioned.
Olson was scheduled to obtain a five-year honorable service award subsequent month.
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Olson graduated from Western Illinois College in 2019 with a bachelor’s diploma in regulation enforcement and justice administration.
She additionally held a grasp’s diploma in pupil personnel providers.
Lake Murray, a man-made reservoir constructed within the Nineteen Twenties to provide hydroelectric energy, is positioned simply west of Columbia. It covers over 48,000 acres of floor water and has roughly 650 miles of shoreline. Its common depth is about 41 ft, however components of the lake attain depths of almost 200 ft.
Olson — who will likely be laid to relaxation on Wednesday — typically hung out on Lake Murray, each for work and for recreation.
Her household had not too long ago bought a home on the lake, and it was there that she spent her free time kayaking, paddle boarding and jet snowboarding, Anderson mentioned.
“She loved the serenity and the quiet of the lake within the midst of her busy profession as a sheriff’s deputy,” the pastor mentioned.
