A family weekend trip turned fatal on Holden Beach when 46-year-old Daniel Jason Roberts got caught in a powerful rip current. His 20-year-old son, Dylan Daniel Roberts, saw his father struggling in the ocean and rushed into the waves to pull him out. Both men, who lived in Lenoir, drowned in the heavy surf before rescuers could save them.
Holden Beach police officers and emergency personnel rushed to the 1100 block of Ocean Boulevard West after dispatch received calls around 9:43 a.m. Rescuers pulled both men from the water and immediately started CPR and advanced life support on the beach. Emergency crews worked on both victims, but neither man survived.
Daniel worked as a primary provider for his family alongside Dylan. The father and son shared a tight bond that relatives described as obvious to anyone around them. When Daniel found himself unable to fight the rough ocean water, Dylan reacted instantly, swimming directly into the dangerous current to try to bring his dad back to safety.
The loss hits the family especially hard coming just months after a major milestone. Dylan had recently married Maggie Day in a surprise ceremony that his mother, Jessica Cutshaw Roberts, said was planned under the guise of a traditional wedding shower. In a tribute posted online, Maggie spoke about Dylan’s constant support and called him the purest love of her life.
News of the double drowning quickly reached Blowing Rock, where Dylan was a familiar face at the Town Tavern. The local restaurant closed temporarily to give employees time to mourn their coworker. Restaurant leadership shared that Dylan brought genuine warmth and light to every shift, calling him an essential part of their work family.
Town officials noted that dangerous water conditions were present all morning due to heavy southwest winds. Police Chief Steven Barger issued a statement expressing sympathy for the Roberts family while warning ocean visitors to take rip current risks seriously. Mayor Alan Holden added that the tragedy was a heavy blow to the beach town, where visitors are treated like family.
A GoFundMe page created for the family highlights the sacrifice Dylan made trying to save his father. With both primary earners now gone, family members and neighbors in Lenoir and Blowing Rock are stepping up to support the surviving family through an overwhelming double loss.
INCIDENT DETAILS
Names Involved: Dylan Daniel Roberts (Son) and Daniel Jason Roberts (Father)
Location: 1100 block of Ocean Boulevard West, Holden Beach, North Carolina
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