GEORGETOWN -- Thursday marked the one year anniversary since three people drowned on the Waccamaw River near Sandy Island.The accident killed Lou Ann Robinson, her 19-year-old daughter Shaquatia Robinson and 18-year-old Rishard Pyatt.
Those three were among six on board the small boat that capsized in rough water only yards from shore on the night of February 18. last year.
The accident killed Lou Ann Robinson, her 19-year-old daughter Shaquatia Robinson and 18-year-old Rishard Pyatt. None of the three victims wore life jackets.
Chase Heath of Murrells Inlet said that even a year later, he can clearly recall the morning he set out to look for the three victims who drowned.
"I went over and found a pink hat and some ropes over in the stumps and took them up, and gave them to the game warden and told them that was definitely from the accident," he explained.
Also among the people desperately hoping to find at least one of the victims alive was close family friend Herman Elliott.
Elliott said that he still has fond memories of Lou Ann Robinson, referring to one another as cousin since the entire island is like a family.
"She was a nice sweet loving person, and if she sees you today, if she knows you she's gona speak to you," said Elliott.
Herman said that he takes the liberty to speak on behalf of Robinson’s entire family and those who died with her.
He said that every day he sees the victims’ loved ones trying to cope with the loss, while keeping their memory alive.
"Things are still pretty sad in the last year, but we have to get over it,” said Elliott, “Time must go on."
"Everybody on the island, whether they are related or not, are like family, and it hurts my heart, my heart is hurting right now,” said Heath almost crying, ”That's the main thing that it hurts your heart to think that it shouldn't have happened."
Heath said that one day after the accident he and many others from the community donated a dozen life jackets for the residents.
Some local businesses also pitched in for a storage box.
News 13 also visited with the family of Shaquatia Robinson’s one-year-old boy who survived the accident.
Zyair Smalls will be turning two next month. His grandfather, Isaiah Geathers said that the toddler is happy, healthy and well.
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