Influencer Editorial Team
Two high school boys in South Carolina died after jumping from a bridge on a dare given in a group chat by friends. D.W. Daniel High School sophomores Rayan Alnasser, 16, and Zakaria Chaar, 15, drowned, and their bodies were found in Lake Hartwell on Monday, May 20. The incident took place late Saturday, May 18. Reports from an individual who was on shore indicated that the way Alnasser landed in the water was awkward, which might have caused him to go into distress, according to Chief Deputy Chuck James.
Zakaria Chaar then jumped in to save his friend but was also dragged underwater by the strong current. A third teen later called 911 to report that they could not find Alnasser and Chaar in the water. First responders quickly arrived, searching the area using divers, boats, and sonar, and later brought in cadaver dogs. On Monday, authorities found their bodies using sonar in the lake. The area where their bodies were discovered was about 15 feet deep.
James warned against dangerous social media trends, saying, “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.” The School District of Pickens County expressed its “deepest condolences and prayers” in a statement, recognizing the profound impact of the tragedy on the families, classmates, teachers, and the broader community. The district emphasized its commitment to providing support and care to students, staff, and families, with a dedicated team of school counselors, psychologists, and mental health professionals available.
Rayan Alnasser was a soccer player for Daniel High School. His coach, Thomas Izaguirre Bonilla, mourned him on Facebook, writing, “Today I’ve received the hardest news a coach could ever receive. My player Rayan Al-Nasser has been called by God to come home. This is a tough time for me and especially his family as we loved him very much. I feel blessed God allowed me to hug him and tell him how proud I was of him one last time.” Bonilla added, “I can’t imagine the world of pain his parents are going through right now but I wanted to make this post so those who were following the news are aware and for those who pray to keep him in your prayers and his family. I would give up every trophy and even my life for him to be back with his family. Rayan, you will be missed. I will forever carry you in my heart. I love you Rayan, rest easy.”
While one boy jumped on the dare, the other jumped trying to save him. Deputies from the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office told Fox Carolina that one of them jumped from Twelve Mile River Bridge and “immediately went into distress.”
