A Halifax man died last week while attempting to save two children from drowning at a beach in Florida.
Joshua Curtis, 38, was on vacation with family in Fernandina Beach on Florida’s northern border, according to TV station News4JAX. The family was at Main Beach Park on April 24 when Curtis’ son and niece got caught in a rip current while playing in the water with another child, the TV station reported.
Local police told the Boston Globe that when first responders arrived at the beach around 7:15 p.m., they found Curtis unconscious in the water. They attempted to resuscitate him, but he was determined to be in cardiac arrest and was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
The two children were rescued from the water safely.
“He was a hero, he loved his son, he loved being a dad, he was a great husband‚” Curtis’ wife, Barbara, told News4JAX, adding that he was a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Police told the Globe that bystanders also stepped in during the incident, including pulling the two children from the water.
Silver Lake Warriors Football, a youth football program serving kids in Halifax, Kingston and Plympton, wrote in a Facebook post that Curtis had been a coach for the league.
“His selfless actions were a reflection of the man he was — brave, loving, and devoted to those he cared about,” program leaders wrote. “His impact on the Warrior family was immediate and lasting. … His passion, leadership, and kindness will be deeply missed on and off the field.”
Curtis’ family has organized a GoFundMe fundraiser to cover funeral costs and support his wife and son.
“Josh lived a life of service — first to his country, and always to his family. His courage and selflessness are an inspiration to all who knew him,” the organizers wrote.
