'Hero' father drowns saving his 12-year-old son from rip current at popular beach destination, family says

Jason DeGray died a "hero," drowning successful the Atlantic Ocean aft plunging into a vicious rip existent to prevention his lad astatine a fashionable formation destination, his woman said. A bully Samaritan who rushed from the soil to assistance was besides killed, adjacent arsenic the kid was pulled to safety.

The man, a begetter of 3 from Windsor Locks, Connecticut, reached his lad Bryce and pulled the 12-year-old to information astatine Cocoa Beach earlier the existent swept him retired to oversea connected April 15, his woman told the Connecticut Post.

DeGray "was a leader and an astonishing dada and partner," his grieving widow, Meagan DeGray, told the section outlet.

"He was a large father," she said. "He did everything for his kids. He was specified a hard worker."

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Jason Michael DeGray of Windsor Locks, Conn., was swept retired to oversea by the rip existent portion connected abrogation successful Florida. (East Windsor Community Funeral Home)

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The calamity unfolded astatine fashionable Cocoa Beach erstwhile authorities were called to a h2o exigency involving 4 people.

Two of the radical affected, DeGray and 34-year-old Ebony Mount, a alien from Ohio, were transported to a infirmary but died, constabulary said.

"The Cocoa Beach Police Department extends its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones affected by this tragic loss," the section said successful a release.

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Meagan DeGray explained that she was with the couple's youngest kid astatine a adjacent Airbnb erstwhile the mishap unfolded, telling the Connecticut Post that it was "super traumatic" not being there.

"Jason hated the beach," the widow said. "He went successful due to the fact that his lad was struggling."

An aerial presumption shows beachgoers adjacent the pier astatine Cocoa Beach, Fla., connected July 29, 2023. (Paul Hennesy/Anadolu Agency)

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DeGray, according to his obituary, was a "die-hard" Las Vegas Raiders instrumentality and spent 25 years moving successful the flooring industry.

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"He grew up with a beardown consciousness of loyalty to household and friends, a trait that defined his life," the obituary says. "His children Bailey, Bryce, and Brynn were the halfway of his world, and helium cherished each infinitesimal spent with them."

Beachgoers stitchery connected Cocoa Beach successful Florida connected July 29, 2023. (Paul Hennesy/Anadolu Agency)

According to the National Weather Center, the Florida seashore – from southbound of Palm Coast to Miami – is identified arsenic a precocious hazard for rip currents. 

"Conditions are starting to subside, making the water a batch much calm oregon appearing to look much calm. But those surf conditions person caused important harm to the sandbars causing flash rip currents," Brevard County Ocean Rescue Chief Eisen Witcher said.

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"It's precise fast, it's precise unexpected, and you tin suffer your footing precise quickly," helium said. "We watch, we effort to forestall that arsenic overmuch arsenic we perchance tin successful our life-guarded areas. Outside of a life-guarded area, it's precise hard for radical from retired of municipality oregon tourists to cognize oregon recognize oregon what to do."

Two radical died successful rip currents successful Brevard County, Florida, connected April 15, 2026. (Getty Images)

The main said that the nearest lifeguard was 3/4 of a mile distant astatine the clip of the emergency.

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"Right now, we are actively recruiting for much lifeguards. We person been for the amended portion of 2 oregon 3 months now," Witcher said, explaining that they person a tryout this weekend. "We'd similar to spot astatine slightest 45 much [lifeguards].

In situations wherever determination is nary adjacent lifeguard, calling 911 is your champion bet, helium said.