STOKES COUNTY, N.C. — The teen who was found dead after a search on Belews Lake Wednesday has been identified.
Elijah Wyatt was a 15-year-old freshman at R.J. Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem. His mother said he had dreams of becoming a NAVY Seal one day. She said he was courageous and had a curious spirit.
"He always scared me but it's like I would never change his adventurous nature, ever, that's just who he was," said Ginger Bennett, Elijah's mother said.
Bennett said family and friends went out to the lake to enjoy the outdoors and knew Elijah would love to see the new area.
"He loved the lake, it was a new lake, and I knew there were a lot of fish he loves to fish," she said.
She said after boating, the kids were swimming and playing in the water. She said she kept yelling at Elijah to put on his lifejacket.
"He told us, he was like 'I can't dive, I can't go under and look for fish with a lifejacket on,'" she said.
She knew he was a strong swimmer. She said Elijah took it out on the water and was about an arms length away incase he needed it.
Bennett said she was watching him and then she noticed Elijah beginning to panic.
"I yelled his name and he waived his hand at me and I was like Bernie, Elijah's in trouble," said Bennett.
Elijah's stepdad, Bernie Bennett, jumped in to try and save him.
"The water was so murky and most people don't realize that once you get past a few feet you can't see so when I got there I couldn't see," said Bernie Bennett. "In just seconds he was gone."
"In that time Elijah had come back up his head wasn't out of water that time but his arm was up and then the third time it was just his hand, and by the time they got to him he was just gone," said Ginger Bennett.
Ginger Bennett immediately called 911 after.
Elijah was found after about 50 people helped in a rigorous search for him. Madison-Rockingham Rescue Squad, sonar and a dive team, High Point Police, and other search and rescue crews all pulled together to search for Elijah.
"Water is a silent killer, so if I hadn't seen it, we wouldn't have known what happened or where he was," said Ginger Bennett.
The family said they are heartbroken, but thankful for the kindness from first responders and the community.
They said they never expected a perfect day would become so dark, but said people can learn from this.
"Just know that things can happen that fast, perfectly good conditions, water wasn't choppy, nice sunny day out there, and in seconds he was gone," Bernie Bennett said.
"If you feel like your eyes can't be on them, they need their jackets, and even the best of swimmers need their life jackets," Ginger Bennett said.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 8 at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel with Pastor Harold Linder officiating. Interment will follow at Westlawn Gardens of Memory.
Friends of Elijah can come to Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday for viewing.
Grief counseling services are available to students at R.J Reynolds High School for those in need of support during this time.
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