Tyler Doyle family and friends issue defiant plea after search group abandons hunt for missing 22-year-old duck hunter

THE family of a missing duck hunter has issued a defiant plea after a specialist search group abandoned its search for the 22-year-old.

Tyler Doyle was reported missing on January 26 after falling overboard in rough water close to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The 22-year-old was last seen putting out duck decoys in the north jetties and reportedly called a friend to say his boat was having motor trouble and taking on water.

Family and friends of Doyle have issued a defiant update as they maintain hope of finding him.

A friend of the family, Josh Johnson, has been keeping people updated on his Facebook account.

He wrote: “I have lots of messages about Tyler Doyle.

“Even though the dive team has gone home, we will continue to search as the opportunity presents itself in the days coming.

“When the seas are calm, we will be out there.

“May not have as many boats out there but we aren’t giving up.

“Everything helps and the family appreciates everyone.”

The non-profit rescue group The Wings of Hope from Wisconsin announced that they were abandoning the search.

On its Facebook page, Wings of Hope wrote: “We had to tell this loving family that there was nothing more we could do as a search and rescue group.

“My heart goes out to Tyler Doyle’s wife and family.”

The non-profit organization used sonar, drones, and K9 units as part of its search for the hunter.

Despite the loss of The Wings of Hope team, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the Civil Air Patrol are continuing the search as long as weather conditions permit.

The boater’s friends and family gathered for a vigil in Little River, three weeks after Tyler went missing.

Relatives shared a statement with the crowd at the beginning of the vigil, as reported by WRAL.

Their statement read: “Your outpouring of support, your uplifting thoughts, your prayers, and your love means so much to this family as they face this arduous journey to find Tyler.”

The family also thanked “everyone who has volunteered their time, their boats, and assisted in this extensive search for Tyler by air, land, and sea.”

Tyler’s wife, Lakelyn Doyle, has revealed that she was forced to make her social media accounts private.

According to The Post and Courier Myrtle Beach, she said that she made the decision to protect her unborn baby from high-stress levels she’s suffering due to the things “strangers” are saying about her missing husband.

Meanwhile, Doyle’s father, Brian, has reiterated his family’s hope that Tyler will be found – he’s asked people to pray for the missing boater and the family.

He told the Post and Courier: “What we need is for everyone to pray and have faith that God is going to give us a miracle and bring Tyler home alive.”

Many people have sent their thoughts and prayers to the family on John’s Facebook post.