More than $80,000 has been raised for the family of a 16-year-old Atlanta boy who drowned while attempting to save a group of younger children. The tragic incident occurred while Bryce Brooks was on a family vacation in Florida, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
He was with family friends when they discovered four younger children in distress in the Gulf of Mexico. Despite not knowing the children, the deceased teen and two others dove into the ocean to save them.
“Our children witnessed four other kids who they did not know being pulled by the current further out to the sea,” Bryce’s father, Shivy Brooks, said. “Our boys sprung into action.”
Bryce was pulled under the water during their attempt to save the children. Another close family member who went into the water to help Bryce was tragically pulled under.
“At that time of being selfless, our son Bryce … while being pulled by currents himself … literally called for help, but not for himself,” Shivy said. “He was calling for help for the little kids he was looking out for.”
Although the family was proud that Bryce and the other family friend did not hesitate to jump into the water, their deaths have left them shaken.
“Our family is devastated. Our community is devastated,” Shivy said. “Our baby should be coming home from school – from this building – right now.”
Bryce attended Atlanta’s Maynard Jackson High School and was an honor roll student. His family stated that he was a member of the school’s fashion club and that he enjoyed making music.
“We’re never gonna get to see Bryce grow up to be the full man that he was going to be,” the teen’s mother, Crystal, said. “But, we know that he stepped into his manhood to save these children, and that makes me proud. It doesn’t take away an ounce of pain, but it makes me proud of our son.”
Despite their loss, the family told FOX 5 Atlanta that they hoped others would be inspired by the story – particularly during a period where youth violence in the city is constantly being reported.
“Let it be amplified that Atlanta-developed kids would give up their lives for other kids,” Shivy said before his wife added, “that they didn’t even know.”
The GoFundMe was set up for the family to help raise funds for the funeral and other expenses.