Crime & Safety

Local Pastor Dies While on Vacation in Myrtle Beach

The Rev. Gregory Hamby, 52, was a pastor at a Baptist church in Essex.

The pastor of the First Baptist Church in Essex has died after he drowned during a family vacation in Myrtle Beach.

The Hartford Courant reported that the Rev. Gregory Hamby, 52, was wading in the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday when, for some unexplained reason, he went under water. Some people nearby rushed to help him and get him back onto the beach, where they awaited before emergency responders arrived, The Courant reported.

The Horry County Coroner's Office told the website CarolinaLive.com that Hamby died the next day from complications related to the drowning.

Find out what's happening in The Haddams-Killingworthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Hamby, a Norwich resident who previously served as a pastor in Waterford, was on vacation with his wife and three children.Β 

Read the Courant for more on this story.

Find out what's happening in The Haddams-Killingworthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.