MOORESVILLE, N.C. — A summer swim at a popular Mooresville quarry ended in tragedy.
Tuesday was the first day of open swim at the typically private Carrigan Farms.
Divers were already in the water searching for the 19-year-old college student as Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the scene at noon, but within an hour emergency crews found the young man's body.
Those who knew 19-year-old Ryan Hayes called him an all-American kid.
Hayes was in the engineering school at North Carolina State University; he was enjoying the summer vacation with friends.
Search crews are still not sure what made him go underwater.
Friends helped grieving family members as they left the quarry in tears.
Meg Watson was with her daughter when she heard someone yelling for help.
"Immediately everyone got silent. It was just very surreal," said Watson.
She tried to console the friends of Hayes who had been with him.
"When the reality hit it was a real trying time for them. So I spent a couple of hours with them until their parents were able to get here," said Watson.
Rescuers consoled Hayes' family and friends – they said it took a long time to get here because the quarry is in such a secluded location.
After a few minutes, the scene changed from a rescue to a recovery operation.
Rescue officials said divers worked hard to find Hayes so that his family could have closure.
"It is very important because that is all that we have to offer at that moment," said Chief Dale Brown of the Charlotte Fire Department.
They can't yet offer answers to why the 19-year-old died here.
Witnesses said he was a good swimmer.
They saw him dive in a couple of times and said he was just swimming when he suddenly went under.