Still grappling with the “immeasurable” pain of losing his son, Shivy Brooks remains deeply proud of 16-year-old Bryce, who gave his life to save four young children from drowning.<\/p>\n
In April 2023, while on a family trip to Pensacola, Florida, Bryce saw the kids caught in a rip current. Without hesitation, he and two friends jumped in to help. Bryce, pulled under by the current, called for help\u2014not for himself, but for the children.<\/p>\n
The area had no lifeguards, and warning flags had been issued. Bryce and close family friend Charles \u201cUncle Chuck\u201d Johnson were airlifted to a hospital, but both tragically passed away. Bryce died from cardiac arrest.<\/p>\n
Shivy recalled the heartbreak of seeing RIP posts with his son\u2019s photo. \u201cWe\u2019re never gonna get to see Bryce grow into the man he was becoming, but he stepped into manhood by saving lives. That makes me proud,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Bryce\u2019s mother, Crystal, added, \u201cIt doesn\u2019t take away the pain, but I\u2019m proud of what he sacrificed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUncle Chuck,\u201d a husband and father of three, also died trying to save Bryce. \u201cThat\u2019s who he was\u2014someone who looked after others,\u201d Shivy said.<\/p>\n
In Bryce\u2019s honor, the family launched the Bryce Brooks Foundation<\/strong>, which offers free swim lessons and lifeguard certification scholarships. It recently awarded six scholarships, including one to Johnson\u2019s son.<\/p>\n On Instagram, Shivy continues to share his grief: \u201cBryce was always my hero\u2026 I just want my son to come home.<\/p>\n