Teen Hero Dies Saving Children from Rip Currents in Florida: Family Mourns Bryce Brooks
Pensacola, Fla. — The ocean’s waves can be beautiful, but on April 6, 2023, they turned deadly. Atlanta teenager Bryce Brooks, 16, lost his life while performing an act of extraordinary courage, saving the lives of four young children caught in powerful rip currents.
Grappling with what he describes as the “immeasurable and seemingly never-ending” pain of losing his son, Bryce’s father, Shivy Brooks, expressed pride in his “baby boy,” who selflessly put the safety of others above his own.
Bryce was on vacation with his family in Pensacola when he spotted a group of children struggling in the surf. The currents repeatedly pulled their heads underwater, and without hesitation, Bryce jumped in to help.
“While being pulled by currents himself, our son Bryce literally called for help—not for himself, but for the little kids he was looking out for,” Shivy Brooks, a teacher, said during a news conference.
The incident unfolded in an area with no lifeguards on duty. Authorities reported that yellow flags, indicating moderate currents, had been issued at the time. According to his father, Bryce and two friends immediately jumped into the water to assist the struggling children. In the process, Bryce was pulled under by the strong waves.
Also caught in the dangerous waters was close family friend Charles Johnson II, known as “Uncle Chuck,” who attempted to rescue Bryce. Both were airlifted to local Pensacola hospitals in critical condition.
Shivy Brooks shared an emotional Instagram post as he and his family rushed to the hospital: “My oldest son Bryce needs our prayers…Bryce went to rescue another child who was drifting to sea and was pulled under by a strong current himself. Our dear friend went in to save Bryce and was victim to the waters as well. Both have been airlifted to a local Pensacola hospital, and I am unaware of their conditions at this moment. His mother and I are on the road to get to him now.”
The following day, Shivy Brooks posted a heartbreaking update: “I never would have imagined waking up to RIP posts with my child’s picture attached to them.”
Bryce’s heroism has left a lasting impression on his community. Friends, family, and strangers alike are mourning the loss of a young life taken too soon, while celebrating the selflessness and bravery that defined his final moments.
He captioned the post simply: “Our baby.”
Bryce Brooks died from cardiac arrest.
“The selflessness it takes for someone to make such a sacrifice—especially at only 16 years old—we are so proud as parents of how our son showed up in this moment,” Shivy Brooks said. “Let it be amplified that Atlanta has raised kids who would give up their lives for others they didn’t even know.”
In the years since, Shivy’s social media has been filled with tearful tributes: heavenly birthday wishes, reflections on first days of school, Father’s Day messages to dads “who can’t hug their babies,” and an April 8 video in which he struggles to tell his younger son that his big brother won’t be coming home.
Though the heartbreak is unbearable, Shivy Brooks remains profoundly proud of Bryce, whom he continues to call his “baby boy.”
“Bryce is a hero. He literally saved the lives of four kids at the expense of his own,” Shivy Brooks said. “We’re never going to get to see Bryce grow up to be the full man he was going to be. But we know that he stepped into his manhood to save these children, and that makes me proud.”
His mother, Crystal Brooks, added, “It doesn’t take away an ounce of pain, but it makes me proud of our son and what he sacrificed. And I’ll forever hold that.”
Also lost in the tragedy was Charles Johnson II, known to the family as “Uncle Chuck,” a devoted husband and father of three. Shivy described him as “a person who looks after everyone. That he would give up his life in an attempt to save Bryce’s life—it’s everything I expect and know about that man.”
In the months following Bryce’s death, the family established the Bryce Brooks Foundation, a charity dedicated to promoting water safety and preventing drowning. According to the foundation, its mission is “to provide free swimming lessons for adults and children and empower teens through scholarships for lifeguard certification.”
The Bryce Brooks Foundation has now awarded its first six scholarships to assist with college expenses, with “Uncle Chuck” Johnson’s son among the recipients.
Recently, Shivy Brooks shared a poignant message on Instagram: “Bryce’s presence is missed evermore. Bryce has always been by my side to make impossible things feasible. Bryce was always my hero.”
He continued, “I just want to talk to this kid. I just want to put my arms around him. I just want my son to come home.”
