As helicopters, boats in the water and men on the ground were searching for Lisa Cannon's son Jamerson Hawkins Sunday, Cannon was also combing the beach, hoping her 17 year old son would emerge from the water.

On Monday, Jamerson's body did wash ashore. We spoke with Cannon, she told us Jamerson was a special kid -- who was always in good spirits even though he had major health problems. Cannon says Jamerson had one kidney, half of bladder and a hole in his heart.

Cannon tells us Jamerson's funeral will be held Saturday at 1pm at Kinston High School.

Original Story:

Rescue crews recovered the body of a missing Kinston teenager who disappeared last night off Atlantic Beach.

The body of Jamerson Hawkins, Jr. was pulled from the ocean around 2:00 p.m. near the bath house at Fort Macon State Park.

According to authorities, the 17-year-old was swimming with a friend at the circle in Atlantic Beach in Carteret County, when the currents overwhelmed him.

A command post was set up at Oceana Pier and crews searched throughout the nigh and into this morning looking for any signs of Hawkins.

Atlantic Beach Fire Chief Adam Snyder says Hawkins didn't know how to swim well and that health problems may have contributed to the accident.