Two high school boys in South Carolina drowned after being encouraged by their friends in a group chat to jump off a bridge. One of them jumped to try to save his friend, authorities said.
The bodies of D.W. Daniel High School sophomores Ryan Alnasser, 16, and Zachariah Chaar, 15, were retrieved from Lake Hartwell on Monday after suffering fatal injuries late Saturday.
Encouraged by friends he met there, one of the boys jumped off the Twelve Mile River Bridge and was “soon lost.” Deputies with the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office told Fox Carolina.
“According to reports from individuals on shore, it appears that he landed erratically, which may have caused him distress,” said Deputy Sheriff Chuck James.
It was not immediately clear which of the two boys jumped first. However, James said the second boy also jumped in to try to save his friend and was then dragged under by the strong current.
Another teen called 911 at 10:28 p.m. and said he couldn’t find Alnasser and Charr in the water.
Rescue teams arrived on the scene within minutes and began searching the scene using divers, boats and sonar. The search continued into Sunday, and cadaver dogs were brought in on Monday.
Their bodies were discovered using sonar around 11 a.m. Monday in the lake, about 15 feet deep, authorities said.
“The TikTok trends, the practice of trying to encourage people to jump off bridges and things like that … it’s just inherently unsafe,” James said.
In a statement, the Pickens County School District offered its “deepest condolences and prayers” to the loved ones of the two students.
“The loss of these young lives is a profound tragedy that impacts not only their families, but also their classmates, teachers, and the broader community,” the school district said.
“At a time like this, our priority is to provide our students, staff and families with the support and care they need. SDPC has a dedicated team of school counselors, psychologists and mental health professionals. We are always available to assist those in need during this difficult time.”
Alnacer, a Daniel High School football player, was mourned by his coach, Thomas Izaguirre.
“I would give up any trophy, even my life, for him to return to his family,” he wrote in a statement. Facebook memorial. “Ryan, I will miss you. I will forever have you in my heart. I love you Ryan, rest assured.”
Classmates remembered the two boys, many of them grappling with grief for the first time.
“It really touches a lot of people because they’re so friendly to everyone,” said Mackenzie Witt, a senior at Daniel High School. he told WSPA.
“I think they’re going to be really happy that the community is coming together and not everyone is just sad. I think they’re going to be happy about that,” Witt added. “Everyone comes together and just loves everyone. I think that’s what they want. For everyone to be happy and love each other.”
The school district plans to hold a vigil in memory of the two students.
