While vacationing at a Florida beach, a 16-year-old boy from Atlanta dove into the water after seeing a group of young kids struggling. Bryce Brooks was on a trip to Pensacola when the situation happened.
At a news conference, his father, Shivy Brooks, explained that Bryce and his friends noticed four young kids being pulled by the current. Without hesitation, Bryce and two other friends jumped in to help.
Their other friends ran to find adults who could help them rescue the children. At the time, Bryce yelled for help while being pulled by the currents.
Their vacation occurred during spring break, and just a week prior, the late teenager made the honor roll.
His Parents are Proud of Their Young Man
His dad clarified that Bryce wasn’t asking for help for himself but for the kids that he wanted to save. At the time, no lifeguards were in the area, and the flags on the beach were yellow, which meant there were moderate currents in the water.
Shortly after, a family friend of Bryce’s named Charles Johnson II, known to them as “Uncle Chuck,” dove in to save him. He was a strong swimmer, but he was no match for the currents at the time.
Both Bryce and Uncle Chuck were pulled underwater. Bryce’s family is devastated by the loss of their sweet son.
To them, however, their boy was a hero. They are comforted by the fact that he died so selflessly and without regrets, with his mom saying:
“We’re never going to get to see Bryce grow up and be the full man that he was going to be. But we know that he stepped into his manhood to save these children. That makes me proud.”
Bryce’s dad agreed. “Bryce is a hero. He literally saved the lives of four kids at the expense of his own,” he said.
Bryce’s family remembers him as a creative person who loved music and fashion. Their vacation occurred during spring break, and just a week prior, the late teenager made the honor roll.