‘He made people better’: Friend honors son who died trying to save his father at Holden Beach

HOLDEN BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Friends and loved ones are rallying around the family of a father and son who drowned over the weekend at Holden Beach, remembering 20-year-old Dylan Roberts as someone who dedicated his life to helping others.

Authorities said Daniel Roberts, 46, and his son, Dylan Roberts, 20, both of Lenoir, drowned near the 1100 block of Ocean Boulevard after getting caught in a rip current.

Family friend and employer Justin Davis has organized a GoFundMe to help support the Roberts family as they cope with the tragedy, funeral expenses and the loss of two primary providers.

Davis said Dylan had worked for him since shortly after graduating high school, eventually becoming a respected leader in the restaurant where he worked.

“He was a great leader and kind of excelled in the position,” Davis said.

According to Davis, Dylan had recently married his high school sweetheart two months before the incident and was the primary provider for their household.

“He was the primary breadwinner for his family,” Davis said. “His dad also passed away, and he was the same situation for his mom. We just felt like there are going to be a bunch of upcoming expenses on this long road of recovery.”

Davis said Dylan wasn’t just a dedicated employee — he made a lasting impact on everyone around him.

“In a world of Debbie Downers, he was a light spot,” Davis said. “He made a lot of people around him better.”

He said Dylan turned long hours in a restaurant kitchen into something enjoyable for his coworkers by encouraging and mentoring others.

“They say it’s not what you take, but it’s what you leave,” Davis said. “He left behind such a path for so many people to enjoy life and make people around them feel better.”

According to Davis, he was told Daniel Roberts was pulled into a rip current shortly after the family arrived at the beach Saturday morning. Dylan immediately rushed into the water to help his father.

“My understanding is his dad got caught in the rip current, and Dylan saw his dad struggling and went out to save him,” Davis said. “In the blink of an eye, they were in uncontrollable rip currents.”

Despite efforts by bystanders, first responders and emergency crews, neither man survived.

“There were first responders and everybody did a wonderful job,” Davis said. “It must have been a very traumatizing moment for not just their family, but the bystanders and first responders.”

Davis also hopes the tragedy serves as a reminder about the dangers of rip currents.

“The ocean’s dangerous,” he said. “Dylan was a strong guy, and his dad was a healthy man, too. It’s not something to take for granted.”

The GoFundMe organizer said the response from the community has been overwhelming, with messages of support pouring in from across North Carolina.

“It lets us believe people want to help,” Davis said.