83-year-old woman falls into a “hidden” well in a century-old house in South Carolina

A routine day of packing and moving turned into a devastating tragedy when an 83-year-old woman fell through rotting floorboards in a century-old South Carolina home.

Unbeknownst to the property owner, a hidden well lay beneath the surface, claiming the life of the elderly woman in an unusual incident.

Dorothy Louise Downey, 83, died when she fell through deteriorated flooring during a packing and moving activity in a small town near Greenville, CBS reported.

It should be noted that supposedly no one knew that beneath the surface, a 48-foot-deep well remained hidden and unknown to the owner of the property.

Recovery of Louise Downey’s body

Rescuers faced a race against time and challenges as they worked for nearly four hours to recover Downey’s body from the hidden well.

The incident occurred while Downey was helping his daughter prepare to move out of the Salem residence, a home with a history dating back to the 1920s, according to property records.

The revelation that family members, including the property owner, were unaware of the existence of the well beneath the house adds a layer of disbelief to the tragedy.

As Downey made her way across the kitchen floor, a section collapsed, causing her to fall into the hidden well. Her daughter, searching in vain in the crawl space, was faced with the devastating reality of an unforeseen and hidden danger.

A first in Oconee County

Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis, with more than three decades of experience, expressed shock at the unprecedented nature of the incident, according to WSPA.

In declaring Downey’s death an accident, Addis noted the rarity of such occurrences during his 31 years as county coroner. The incident sheds light on the potential dangers lurking beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary homes, emphasizing the importance of property safety assessments.

The tight-knit Oconee County community, just 40 miles west of Greenville, is dealing with the shock of a tragedy that unfolded within the walls of a century-old family home.

The loss of Dorothy Louise Downey serves as a reminder of the unforeseen dangers that can exist in aging properties, leading to reflection on safety measures and property awareness.

As the investigation develops, questions arise about the safety of the property and the need for thorough evaluations, especially in homes with a long history.

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