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Crews recover body of a missing swimmer in ocean at Myrtle Beach

The body of a missing swimmer was found Tuesday. 

Horry County Chief Deputy Coroner, Tamara Willard identified the victim as Erick White, 20 from Sumter. 

Willard says White’s death has been ruled as an accidental drowning.

Authorities and rescue crews began searching on Saturday White who was swimming and didn’t make it back to shore.

The incident was reported around 6:30 pm Saturday, said Lt. Joey Crosby of the Myrtle Beach Police.

The “distressed” swimmer was reported in the ocean at 7th Ave. South in Myrtle Beach.

Related story: Swimmer drowns in waterway near Enterprise Boat Landing

A 19-year-old Sumter man told authorities that he was swimming with his 20-year-old friend when they had problems in the water, said Cpl Tommy Hunt of Myrtle Beach Police.

The pair headed back to shore, but the teen was the only one who managed to make it to the beach, Hunt said.

There were two Myrtle Beach rescue boats in the water and one Myrtle Beach rescue Jet Ski, Hunt said. A US Coast Guard helicopter also helped in the search, according to Hunt.

The search area extends from 6th Ave. South to Springmaid Pier and Pebble Beach, Hunt said, adding the that the current is moving South in the area.