2 teens drown after being dared to jump off bridge into lake, deputies say

CENTRAL, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) – Two high school students in South Carolina died after they were dared to jump off a bridge and into a lake, deputies said.

The Pickens County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as 16-year-old Rayan Al-Nasser and 15-year-old Zakaria Chaar. Both were sophomores at D.W. Daniel High School.

The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office said students from D.W. Daniel High School were in a group chat, challenging each other to jump from Twelve Mile River Bridge into Lake Hartwell.

The group went to the bridge to jump on Saturday night, and when they did, deputies said one of the boys “immediately went into distress.”

“The reports from an individual who was on shore sounded like the way he landed was awkward, which might have caused him to go into distress,” Chief Deputy Chuck James said.

Another teen then jumped in to save his friend, but both went under the water. James said a strong current runs under the bridge.

Another teen called 911 at 10:28 p.m., saying their friends were in the water and couldn’t be found.

First responders arrived on the scene within minutes and launched a search using divers, boats, and sonar. After no success on Saturday night, the search continued into Sunday. Cadaver dogs were brought in on Monday.

Around 11 a.m. Monday, the bodies of both boys were located on sonar, roughly 8 feet apart, in an area of the lake that was 15 to 16 feet deep.

“TikTok trends or, you know, habits where people are trying to encourage people to jump off bridges or anything in that nature... I mean, it’s just inherently not safe,” James said.

Rayan played soccer for D.W. Daniel High School. His coach, Thomas Izaguirre Bonilla, posted a tribute to the teen on Facebook, describing his death as “the hardest news a coach could ever receive.”

“I would give up every trophy and even my life for him to be back with his family,” he wrote. “Rayan you will be missed. I will forever carry you in my heart. I love you Rayan rest easy.”

The School District of Pickens County said in a statement that it is “heartbroken” over the deaths. Additional counselors will be available at the high school throughout the week.

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