Skull Creek Boating Accident – Beaufort County, SC Two Killed, Two Injured in Late-Night Tragedy
A serene summer evening took a tragic turn Friday at approximately 9:45 p.m. local time on June 27, 2025, when a 23-foot recreational boat capsized in Skull Creek near Hilton Head Island. The passenger-filled vessel tragically claimed two lives and left two others injured, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office .
Incident Overview
- Time & Location: Responders were alerted around 9:45 p.m. to reports of a boat collision or capsize in Skull Creek, Beaufort County ().
- Vessel Details: The boat was identified as a 23-foot craft operating in a popular summer boating zone off Hilton Head Island ().
- Onboard Situation: Four individuals were aboard. Two were located injured and rushed to a nearby hospital; tragically, the other two were found dead at the scene .
Response & Investigation
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, along with both the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Coast Guard, responded swiftly and initiated a coordinated rescue and recovery mission . Dive teams from the DNR recovered all occupants. Authorities are withholding the identities of the deceased pending next-of-kin notification .
Community Impact & Reaction
Local leaders, including Hilton Head Island Mayor Alan Perry, joined the sheriff’s office in expressing deep condolences:
“I’m at a loss for words over the tragic boat accident last night… My heart and prayers are with the families of the deceased and those who are injured.”
Safety & Prevention Context
This incident underscores the dangers of summer recreational boating. In 2023, South Carolina recorded 23 boating-related fatalities from 150 accidents, illustrating that Skull Creek’s tragedy, while shocking, is part of a broader statewide pattern .
Authorities are expected to release full details once the investigation progresses. The Sheriff’s Office, DNR, Coast Guard, and local dive teams continue their thorough review of the incident.
