The Carolina coastline has always been synonymous with sun-soaked holidays, pastel beach houses, and endless Atlantic horizons. But behind its idyllic image lies a more sobering story. Over the last quarter-century, more than 600 people have lost their lives along these shores — a tragic reminder that paradise comes with hidden risks.
A long-term analysis by Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers has uncovered the beaches where tragedy strikes most often, analysing 25 years of verified records on drownings, shark incidents, and DUI-related deaths in coastal counties across North and South Carolina.
The result is a data-backed “Danger Index” that highlights which destinations pose the greatest risk — and why many of these deaths were avoidable.
The Carolinas’ Most Dangerous Beaches
Topping the list is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, which recorded 230 fatalities between 2000 and 2024 — the highest total in the region. The breakdown includes 135 drownings, 20 shark attacks, and 75 DUI-related deaths in surrounding beach towns. Despite welcoming around 19 million visitors a year, the city remains one of the most perilous coastal destinations in America.
Next is North Carolina’s Outer Banks, where 152 deaths were recorded over the same period — including 28 confirmed shark attacks, the most in the Carolinas. While its long stretches of wild coastline are a surfer’s dream, unpredictable rip currents and limited lifeguard presence have made it a hotspot for accidents.
Folly Beach, South Carolina, placed third overall but ranks worst by fatality rate. With just over a million annual visitors, its 93 deaths equate to nearly 78 fatalities per million tourists — a staggering figure that underscores how smaller crowds don’t always mean greater safety.
Wrightsville Beach, NC, and Hilton Head, SC, complete the top five.
| Rank | Beach Location | Drownings | Shark Attacks | DUI Fatalities | Total Fatalities | Annual Visitors | Fatalities per 1M Visitors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Myrtle Beach, SC | 135 | 20 | 75 | 230 | 19,000,000 | 12.1 |
| 2 | Outer Banks, NC | 90 | 28 | 34 | 152 | 3,500,000 | 43.4 |
| 3 | Folly Beach, SC | 45 | 8 | 40 | 93 | 1,200,000 | 77.5 |
| 4 | Wrightsville Beach, NC | 25+ | 3 | 18 | 46 | 800,000 | 57.5 |
| 5 | Hilton Head, SC | 30 | 5 | 35 | 70 | 2,500,000 | 28.0 |
Tourists Face the Highest Risk
The research shows that visitors make up more than half of all drowning victims. Inexperience with rip currents, poor flag awareness, and overconfidence in calm-looking water are common threads among fatalities.
Alcohol also plays a critical role. In several coastal counties, DUI-related deaths now outnumber drownings during peak summer weekends — particularly in South Carolina’s resort towns.
“It’s often a combination of fatigue, alcohol, and unfamiliar surroundings,” explained a spokesperson for Auger & Auger. “People drive long hours to reach the coast, start celebrating right away, and underestimate local hazards — both in the water and on the road.”
The study also highlights the seasonal strain on public safety infrastructure, with many lifeguards employed only during summer and flag systems inconsistently enforced across counties.
Shark Encounters: Rare but Clustered
While shark attacks capture headlines, they remain statistically rare compared to drownings or road accidents. Yet the Outer Banks alone accounted for nearly 30 recorded shark incidents — concentrated in areas where tourism, fishing, and migration routes overlap.
Marine experts stress that rip currents pose a far greater threat than marine life. “You’re far more likely to get caught in a current than encounter a shark,” one biologist noted. “But fear doesn’t always align with reality.”
The Human Toll
Each figure in the study represents a real person and a family left behind. At Myrtle Beach, 58% of drowning victims were out-of-state visitors, and emergency response times were found to double during summer weekends.
At Folly Beach, a relaxed bar scene has correlated with a mix of alcohol-related drownings and post-bar road deaths, while smaller beaches like Wrightsville and Hilton Head report higher per-capita fatality rates due to limited patrol areas and off-season safety gaps.
How the Study Was Conducted
The 25-year review drew from multiple official and public sources, including:
- NOAA and the U.S. Lifesaving Association for drowning data and rescues
- International Shark Attack File (ISAF) for confirmed shark incidents
- NHTSA and state highway safety records for DUI fatalities
- Local tourism boards and health departments for visitor and coroner data
Each beach’s overall score was calculated via the weighted Danger Index, giving drownings (40%), shark attacks (30%), and DUI deaths (30%).
Safety Starts with Awareness
The purpose of the report isn’t to discourage travel, but to inform and empower visitors. The Carolinas depend on tourism — but awareness could prevent many tragedies.
Simple precautions make a difference:
- Learn how to identify and escape rip currents
- Check flag systems and surf conditions daily
- Never mix alcohol with swimming or driving
- Avoid swimming alone or after dark
The beaches of the Carolinas remain among the most stunning in the U.S. — but as the data shows, true paradise demands respect as much as admiration.