Conway fisherman’s death ruled accidental

The death of a missing Conway fisherman whose body was found in Lynches River near Johnsonville in December has been ruled accidental, according to the Florence County Coroner’s Office.

An autopsy performed at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston determined that Robert Canteen Jr., 51, drowned. The autopsy also revealed Canteen had a small amount of alcohol in his blood, according to the coroner’s office.

S.C. Department of Natural Resources officers found Canteen’s body Dec. 12, almost a month after he was reported missing.

He was last seen alive by his wife who dropped him off Nov. 19 at Odell Venters Landing to go fishing. Fishermen reported to emergency personnel that they had found Canteen’s overturned boat, along with a seat and a life jacket, about a mile south of the landing.