17-year-old identified in Pawleys Island drowning incident; autopsy planned

MURRELLS INLET, S.C. (WBTW) — The body of a Pawleys Island teenager who went missing Friday night was recovered a day later near Huntington Beach State Park, officials said.

Georgetown County Coroner Chase Ridgeway said an autopsy of 17-year-old Tyrese Haynes of Murrells Inlet will be conducted at the Medical University of South Carolina.

The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office spearheaded the two-day, multi-agency search that included marine and aerial units from Midway Fire Rescue, Murrells Inlet Garden City Fire Rescue, the state Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Coast Guard.

After rough conditions on Friday night forced a halt to the search, crews spent five hours on Saturday scouring the area around Huntington Beach State Park.

“Deputies saw what appeared to be a body in the surf, and a Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office drone unit returned to the area and confirmed the sighting,” the agency said in a statement. “Units on all-terrain vehicles made the recovery.”

The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office marine unit probed waters Friday and Saturday, with two jet skis used Saturday morning from Midway Fire Rescue.

Officials also launched shoreline searches using a utility vehicle until bad weather moved in.

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources provided a vessel for water searchers, while Murrells Inlet Garden City Fire Department deployed a wide scan sonar boat. U.S. Coast Guard personnel flew a helicopter over the area.

A News13 reporter on Saturday attempted to access the area where the swimmer was last seen but was told by an official the property was closed off because the victim’s family was there.

This is a developing story. Count on News13 for updates.

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12 . See more of his work here .

* * *

Hannah Huffstickler is a multimedia journalist at News13. She joined the News13 team in January 2024 after graduating from Coastal Carolina University in December of 2023. Keep up with Hannah on Facebook , X, formerly Twitter , and Instagram . You can also read more of her work here .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.