‘Invaluable:’ Waccamaw High School booster club honors Murrells Inlet drowning victim

PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. (WBTW) — A Murrells Inlet teenager who drowned over the weekend was remembered on Sunday as an “invaluable” part of his Waccamaw High School community.

Tyrese Haynes, 17, played basketball at the Georgetown County school, according to a Facebook post by its athletic booster club.

“Our Warrior Family is grieving. Tyrese was an invaluable member of our team, school and community. There will forever be a hole where Tyrese stood. We are sending all of our prayers to Tyrese’s family and friends,” the post said.

Haynes’ body was recovered Saturday evening near Huntington Beach State Park, a few miles from where he was last seen the night before swimming near South Dunes Drive.

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 Georgetown County crisis care team made up grief counselors and area clergy will be at Waccamaw High School on Monday offering support for students, staff and faculty.