The waters at the border of South Carolina and North Carolina are unpredictable at the best of times. But on the afternoon of January 26, 2023, they were downright hostile. A small-craft advisory was in full effect over the Little River jetties. The air was a biting 39 degrees, the ocean a frigid 50, and northwest winds were howling at 15 to 30 knots, churning the sea into a chaotic frenzy.
It was the kind of day most experienced mariners would spend safely on dry land. Yet, out in the rough surf was a small, 16-foot flat-bottom jon boat—a vessel designed for shallow, calm water, not the open ocean. Aboard were 22-year-old Tyler Doyle and a close friend, determined to go duck hunting despite the warning signs.
You know the drill, let’s unpack the facts.
