A father vacationing in Florida has lost his life in a heroic effort to save his children.
Ryan Jennings, 46, his wife Emily and their three children were swimming at Juno Beach on Wednesday when a dangerous rip current formed in the water.
The family is originally from North Yarmouth, Maine, and they traveled down south this week to visit Jennings’ parents.
His 12-year-old stepson, Jax, and nine-year-old daughter, Charlie, got caught up in the waves and were quickly dragged away from land, reported the Bangor Daily News.
The courageous father immediately ran after them, throwing the little boy toward the shore and lifting his daughter above his head to keep her from drowning.
Both children survived, but Jennings was unable to save himself.
‘He made sure they made it out alive,’ his heartbroken widow told the Daily News. ‘He truly was our hero.’
Shortly before their trip, Emily found out she was pregnant with their fourth child. The couple met more than a decade prior when she was a single mom.
Ryan Jennings, 46, died in Florida while saving two of his children. He is pictured with his wife Emily, stepson Jax, and daughters Charlie and Bowie
Emily and Ryan Jennings had been together for more than a decade. They met when she was a single mother. She called him her ‘soulmate’ and ‘best friend’
They soon welcomed two little girls of their own, Bowie and Charlie, and were looking forward to the new addition.
Emily posted a tribute to her late husband shortly after his death, calling him her ‘soulmate and best friend.’
‘There is such sadness and such enormous light at the possibility of bringing another little Rye life into this world,’ she wrote.
‘Right now I’m not really sure how to go on ever again.’
Jennings coached Jax and dozens of other students throughout their hometown in football and basketball.
According to his LinkedIn, he worked at marketing group Tide Smart as the Senior Vice President of Client Engagement. Jennings graduated from Sacred Heart University in 2002.
His parents, Ernest and Gail Toti, plan to start a scholarship in their son’s honor. They will allocate $5,000 to one student each year in the North Yarmouth Area.
‘He wasn’t always a straight-A student, so I didn’t wanna give it out based on grades,’ Gail said. ‘It’s more about character.’
Family friend Geraldine Ollila told AZ Family that Jennings was a selfless father and ‘amazing human being.’
The family was visiting Florida from their hometown in Maine to see Jennings’ parents
Loved ones said Jennings was an ‘amazing human being’ and devoted father
‘He was a hero. He saved the kids,’ she said. ‘It was exactly who Ryan Jennings is. An amazing, amazing human being.’
Ollila started a GoFundMe to support Emily and her children while they navigated life without Ryan.
‘Ryan was not only Emily’s soulmate, but also a loving father and friend to many,’ read the tribute.
‘His heroic actions are a testament to the kind of person he was, and his loss leaves a tremendous void in the lives of everyone who knew him.’
‘In the wake of this unimaginable tragedy, Emily is now faced with the challenge of caring for her three children and rebuilding her life,’ it continued.
‘The support from friends, family, and the community will help provide for the children’s needs and give Emily the time and resources she needs to get back on her feet.’
Ollila is asking for $170,000 on the family’s behalf. She has already raised $120,000.
Jennings coached his son in football and wrestling. He worked as a Senior Vice President of Client Engagement
The Palm Beach County Fire Department issued a statement about the tragic incident, noting that first responders initiated a water rescue at 3.25pm on April 1.
Officials said the family was not swimming in a lifeguard-supervised section of the beach.
‘This incident underscores the importance of swimming at guarded beaches, where trained lifeguards can identify hazardous conditions, including rough surf and rip current formation, helping to reduce the risk of incidents before they happen,’ the agency said in a statement obtained by WMTW.
According to the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service, about 100 Americans die in rip currents each year.
Lifeguards rescue 30,000 swimmers from the treacherous waves annually. The currents can flow as fast as eight feet per second as the waves pull away from the shore.
The Daily Mail contacted the Palm Beach County Fire Department for more information.
