On January 26, 2023, a 22-year-old man named Tyler Doyle from Loris, South Carolina, went missing in the Atlantic Ocean near Little River. He and a friend had gone out for a duck hunting trip in a 16-foot jon boat near the Little River jetties. Doyle dropped his friend off on the north jetty and then proceeded alone to scout for ducks. That afternoon, a small-craft advisory was in effect, indicating rough seas that were not suitable for smaller boats.
Doyle later called his friend to report that his boat was experiencing mechanical problems, was taking on water, and that he could not keep the motor running. His friend lost sight of him as he went around the south jetty. The friend then called 911 for help, and also flagged down a nearby boat, which was unable to reach Doyle due to the hazardous water conditions.
A multi-agency search was immediately launched, involving the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Horry County Fire Rescue. An Horry County Fire Rescue boat arrived on the scene within nine minutes of being dispatched. They found Doyle's friend on the jetties and located Doyle's partially submerged boat, with only about a foot of the bow visible above the water. The water temperature at the time was 50 degrees, with an air temperature of 39 degrees. In the days that followed, some of Doyle's personal belongings, including his waders and wallet, were discovered off the coast of North Carolina. Despite extensive and prolonged search efforts by numerous agencies and volunteers, including the use of sonar, drones, and K-9 units, Tyler Doyle has never been found.
The official investigation, led by the SCDNR, concluded that Doyle's disappearance was a hunting and boating accident, with no foul play suspected. They cited the adverse weather conditions and mechanical failure of the boat as the primary contributing factors. This conclusion was based on witness interviews, phone records, location data from a sharing app, and an inspection of the boat and recovered items. The case has garnered significant public attention and has been the subject of widespread online discussion and speculation. The family has faced immense emotional distress, and Doyle's wife gave birth to their daughter in the months after he went missing. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division later joined the investigation to assist with inquiries related to the missing person case. The disappearance of Tyler Doyle remains an active missing person case, a haunting mystery that has left his family and community searching for answers and closure.Last Seen: Jan 26, 2023
