ATLANTIC BEACH, SC — The family of Michael Boddie, a 43‑year‑old father who drowned in July 2024 after rescuing his children from a rip current, has filed a wrongful‑death lawsuit alleging that lifeguard failures and unsafe beach‑service practices contributed to his death.
According to the complaint, Boddie entered the water to pull his two sons from a rip current off Atlantic Beach. The children survived, but Boddie was swept away and later died. His wife, Wilma Boddie, filed the lawsuit on July 9, 2026, claiming lifeguards did not respond appropriately and that the beach’s dual‑role lifeguard model created unsafe conditions.
The suit names Lewis LLC, New Wave Watersports, Atlantic Watersports, Atlantic Beach Services, and several owners, along with the City of North Myrtle Beach and the Town of Atlantic Beach. The filing alleges that lifeguards were assigned commercial duties such as chair and umbrella rentals, reducing their ability to monitor swimmers and respond to emergencies. It also claims both municipalities allowed or failed to regulate the dual‑role system.
The complaint references a 2022 Myrtle Beach drowning case in which a beach‑service company was ordered to pay more than $20 million, citing it as evidence that the dual‑role lifeguard model carries known risks.
The defendants have not yet filed formal responses to the allegations. All parties are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise in court. The case is pending in Horry County.
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