An Atlanta teenager is being hailed a hero after losing his life saving four children from drowning.
Teenager Bryce Brooks and his parents, Crystal and Alfred Brooks, were vacationing in Pensacola, Florida, on April 6th. While enjoying some fun in the sun at Johnson Beach in Perdido Key, the outing took a devastating turn. The 16-year-old spotted four children in the water who appeared in distress. The kids had become caught in a strong rip tide. Bryce quickly sprang into action, running into the water to save them. Sadly, he would soon get pulled under, but not before he was able to rescue all four children, none of which he knew.
Family friend Chuck Johnson, who was joining them at the beach, saw Bryce struggling in the relentless waters and ran in to save him. Tragically, both Johnson and Bryce died. The distraught parents spoke during a news conference about their son’s bravery.
“He literally saved the lives of four kids at the expense of his own,” Alfred said of his son’s selfless act before honoring his friend who tried desperately to save him. “What he sacrificed for our son is what any other fathers in our village would have done.”
Three of the children saved by the teen were reportedly air-flown to a nearby hospital in critical condition. A fourth was in serious condition. First responders made it to the beach in six minutes, though the family believes lifeguards would have been able to save Johnson, a youth basketball coach and father of three as well as Bryce. However, Escambia County said they couldn’t put lifeguards on the beach since it’s private property. They said they would be placing warning signs across the beach about rip current risks.
