For generations, the beaches of North and South Carolina have been celebrated as some of America’s most iconic escapes — endless boardwalks, gentle surf, and family-friendly charm. But beneath their postcard-perfect image lies a chilling reality few visitors ever see.

A comprehensive 25-year study by Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers has uncovered more than 600 deaths along the Carolina coastlines since 2000, revealing that the same destinations attracting millions of visitors each year are also the sites of the region’s deadliest beach tragedies.

The research examined verified fatality data across three key categories — drownings, shark attacks, and DUI-related deaths in beach counties — painting a stark picture of how beauty and danger collide on the Carolina shoreline.

Tourist Hotspots, Hidden Dangers

The study found that over half of all victims were tourists, many unfamiliar with local surf conditions, rip currents, and coastal roadways. Popularity, it turns out, comes at a price: the beaches drawing the biggest crowds are often the ones where visitors face the highest risk of never returning home.

“They came to the coast — too many left in body bags,” said a spokesperson for Auger & Auger. “These aren’t freak accidents. They’re patterns of preventable loss.”

Key Findings

• Myrtle Beach, SC ranks #1 overall with 230 total fatalities, including 135 drownings and 75 DUI-related deaths.

• Folly Beach, SC records the highest fatality rate per visitor, at 77.5 deaths per million tourists.

• The Outer Banks, NC leads the Carolinas in shark attacks, with 28 confirmed incidents since 2000.

• 51% of all drowning victims were out-of-state visitors unfamiliar with local surf conditions.

• DUI deaths exceeded drownings during several peak weekends in South Carolina.

• Wrightsville Beach, NC has the highest death density in its state despite a smaller tourist population.

The Carolinas’ Most Dangerous Beaches (2000–2024)

Breaking Down the Data

Myrtle Beach, SC
The Carolinas’ most visited resort town also tops the list for overall fatalities. Despite attracting 19 million tourists annually, lifeguard staffing is seasonal and flag systems inconsistent. Nearly 60% of drowning victims were visitors from out of state.

Outer Banks, NC
With 28 shark incidents and 152 total deaths, the Outer Banks ranks second overall. Vast, under-patrolled coastlines and strong rip currents contribute to one of the region’s highest fatality rates per visitor.

Folly Beach, SC
The most statistically dangerous beach in the Carolinas. With 93 deaths and a relatively small visitor count, Folly Beach sees a fatality rate more than six times higher than Myrtle Beach, with holiday weekends particularly high-risk for drownings and DUIs.

Wrightsville Beach, NC
Despite its compact size, Wrightsville has logged 46 fatalities, including over 25 drownings. Experts cite infrastructure gaps and limited off-season patrols as major contributing factors.

Hilton Head Island, SC
With 70 deaths and over 50% of victims identified as tourists, Hilton Head’s safety reputation contrasts sharply with reality. Peak summer months account for the majority of incidents.

A Preventable Pattern

The Auger & Auger study found that 77.5 deaths per million visitors at Folly Beach and rising DUI deaths in South Carolina point to a statewide public safety gap.
“People assume that branded or luxury destinations are automatically safer,” said a coastal safety analyst involved in the study. “But many of these beaches rely on part-time lifeguards, underfunded flag systems, and inconsistent enforcement.”

The findings show that during summer and holiday weekends, DUI fatalities often exceed drowning deaths — highlighting the dangers not just in the water, but on the roads that lead to it.

Methodology

The analysis by Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers covered the years 2000 through 2024, using verified public and official records:

• Drowning data: NOAA, U.S. Lifesaving Association, and state health departments

• Shark incidents: International Shark Attack File (ISAF)

• DUI fatalities: NHTSA and state crash databases

• Tourist origin: EMS and medical examiner records

• Visitor volume: State tourism boards and Convention & Visitor Bureaus

Each beach’s ranking was determined by a weighted Danger Index, with Drownings (40%), Shark Attacks (30%), and DUI Fatalities (30%).

A Call for Awareness

The study’s message is not to deter tourism — but to encourage awareness.

Simple steps like learning to spot rip currents, respecting warning flags, swimming only near lifeguards, and never mixing alcohol with swimming or driving could save dozens of lives every year.

“The Carolinas will always be beautiful,” the spokesperson added. “But safety has to become part of the experience. These deaths aren’t inevitable — they’re preventable.”

A new nationwide study has revealed that passengers are statistically safer riding in a taxi than in an ambulance in several parts of the United States — a finding that has raised questions about emergency response safety and driver training standards.

The analysis, conducted by Las Vegas-based personal injury law firm Shook & Stone, reviewed crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) spanning 2019 to 2023. The study compared the total number of reported taxi and ambulance crashes across all 50 states to identify where the gap in safety was most pronounced.

While taxis and ambulances serve very different purposes, the results show that in many states, ambulance crashes occur far more frequently than taxi crashes. In some cases, the difference was stark enough to suggest potential weaknesses in safety training, vehicle maintenance, or emergency driving protocols.

Texas topped the list, with data showing 14 ambulance crashes and no taxi crashes during the five-year period. Georgia ranked second, recording 10 ambulance crashes compared to just three taxi crashes. Tennessee also appeared among the top 10 states, ranking ninth, with five ambulance crashes versus three taxi crashes.

Other states rounding out the top 10 included Missouri (0–5), Indiana (2–6), North Carolina (4–8), Pennsylvania (3–7), Alabama (0–3), Hawaii (0–2), and Washington (0–2).

According to the data, Georgia’s ambulance crashes peaked in 2019, 2021, and 2023, with three recorded incidents in each of those years. Taxi crashes in the state remained minimal, occurring once a year in 2019, 2022, and 2023, and not at all in 2020 or 2021. Tennessee saw three taxi crashes in 2019 and none in subsequent years, while ambulance crashes occurred once annually between 2019 and 2021, increasing to two in 2023.

A spokesperson for Shook & Stone said the findings reveal an important, if surprising, insight into transportation safety trends:

“The study highlights that several states — including Georgia and Tennessee — show some of the most significant disparities between taxi and ambulance crash rates. While ambulances operate under far more challenging conditions than taxis, the data suggests that there may be opportunities to improve safety outcomes for both patients and emergency medical personnel.”

Emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, face unique risks due to the urgency of their operations. Drivers are often required to navigate congested roads at high speeds, run red lights, and make split-second decisions to reach patients or hospitals in time. While these risks are inherent to emergency response, experts suggest that targeted improvements could reduce crash rates without compromising response times.

“Enhanced driver training, stricter maintenance checks, and upgraded safety technology could all play a role in reducing ambulance crashes,” the spokesperson added. “State transportation officials and emergency medical services may want to review current safety policies to identify where improvements can be made.”

The findings also touch on a broader issue: the growing need to balance emergency response speed with public and crew safety. Many states have already begun introducing advanced telematics and driver monitoring systems for emergency fleets. However, adoption and training consistency vary significantly across jurisdictions.

Taxis, by contrast, are typically driven under more controlled conditions. They are subject to commercial driving regulations and operate within predictable environments, which may explain their lower crash numbers.

Still, the researchers note that the study’s findings shouldn’t be interpreted as a criticism of emergency responders — rather, as an opportunity to strengthen existing safety measures.

“Ambulance drivers and medical staff perform vital work under immense pressure,” the spokesperson concluded. “The goal of this study is to help shine a light on where additional resources or training could make a real difference in protecting both those receiving care and those providing it.”

The research underscores the firm’s broader commitment to raising awareness of transportation safety and advocating for accident prevention at every level.

Methodology
The study analyzed NHTSA crash data for taxi and ambulance crashes from 2019 to 2023 across all 50 U.S. states. The total number of crashes for each vehicle type was calculated to identify the top 10 states where the safety gap between taxis and ambulances was most pronounced.