STECCATO DI CUTRO, CROTONE, CALABRIA, ITALY - 2023/02/28: A man with a lamp on the beach prays for the migrants who drowned in the shipwreck. In Steccato di Cutro, near Crotone, in Calabria, southern Italy, a tragedy occurred at sea, 63 migrants died of drowning, including some children, due to the storm that broke the boat on which they were arriving in Calabria . It would appear that there were around 250 on the boat. 81 survived by swimming to the beach. (Photo by Alfonso Di Vincenzo/KONTROLAB/LightRocket via Getty Images)
An Atlanta teen and a family friend died during spring break while trying to save a group of kids who appeared to be drowning off the coast of Pensacola, Florida.
The family said 16-year-old Bryce Brooks and their friend, Charles ‘Chuck’ Johnson, II, drowned Thursday after jumping in the water to save four younger children. Though Bryce and Charles did not know the kids, they had witnessed the rip currents sweeping them away, WSB-TV reports.
Shivy Brooks and Crystal Brooks are still in shock days after their son, and Johnson jumped into the ocean but never made it back to shore.
“Our family is devasted. Our community is devastated,” said Shivy Brooks.
His mother said Bryce was calling for help, but not for himself, and called him “a hero” after “literally saving the lives of four kids at the expense of his own.”
“Being selfless, our son Bryce, while being pulled by the currents himself, literally called for help, not for himself, but he was calling for help for the little kids that he was looking out for,” Shivy Brooks told the outlet. “Bryce is a hero. He literally saved the lives of four kids at the expense of his own.”
The teen, who was a student at Maynard Jackson High School, was an honor roll student, played the piano, and produced musical beats, according to his family.
“Definitely into fashion. He was a member of the fashion club here at Maynard, honor roll student, A/B honor roll. He just made the honor roll,” said Crystal Brooks.
While Crystal Brooks said she was proud of her son for saving the lives of others, she said it still “doesn’t take an ounce of pain” away.
“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. It doesn’t take an ounce of pain, but it makes me proud of our son,” said Crystal Brooks.
A GoFundMe has already raised $79,214 out of a $75,000 goal.
Those interested in donating to the family can do so here.
At this time, there are no additional updates about the four children saved.
