In 1989, 11-year-old Brian Dahl sent a message in a bottle floating from Oxford, Mississippi, unaware that his note would become the last message the world would hear from him. According to U.S. News, Brian's family now considers the discovery of this message to be a heavenly sign.
The story began last April when Billy Mitchell from Big River Shipbuilders spotted a green bottle floating near a barge. “I have a habit of searching for unique items like driftwood,” Mitchell told USA Today. “I noticed this bottle and realized there was a message inside.”
Mitchell carefully retrieved the bottle and, after about 30 minutes, used shish kebab skewers to extract the note. Although much of the letter had deteriorated, he could still make out the name “Tahl” (which was actually “Dahl”), the year “1989,” and the location “Oxford, Mississippi” written in a child's handwriting.
Brad Brabb, a compliance officer at Big River, was determined to uncover the story behind the message. “My first thought was to investigate and find this child,” Brabb shared with U.S. News.
The team at Big River posted a photo of the letter on Facebook, which quickly gained traction, being shared 127 times. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Eric Dahl, Brian's father, was notified about the post, and Melanie Parker Dahl, Brian’s mother, commented on it.
“This is astounding,” Eric Dahl remarked. “Receiving a message 33 years later, seeing Brian’s handwriting—it felt like something out of a novel or a TV show. It was miraculous.”
Brian had battled cancer and was an athlete before tragically passing away in a home accident at the age of 29. Eric saw the message as a divine gift. “We’re a family that prays, and this feels like part of God’s plan,” he added.
The message was part of a sixth-grade project. Martha Burnett, Brian’s sixth-grade teacher, now 82, recalled, “We had a field trip, and the students dropped their bottles into the water. For years, we didn’t hear anything.” The bottle traveled 200 miles to the Yazoo River in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Eric, Melanie, and their son Chris visited the shipyard in Vicksburg to meet the team who discovered the bottle and to retrieve their son’s project. The emotional reunion with the note at the shipbuilder's office was deeply touching for the family.
“The fact that an 11-year-old wrote ‘please' in his note stands out,” Eric said. “Knowing that his words connected with strangers is very meaningful.”
Melanie added that Brian had a great sense of humor and would have been delighted to know his message was found. The letter, intended for a distant stranger, brought a sense of renewed connection and presence to his family.
“It’s surprising to think something like this could happen,” said Burnett. “In a way, it brings Brian back to life.”