A father spending Father’s Day with his two daughters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, tragically died while trying to save them from drowning, authorities reported.
On Sunday, June 15, at around 7:20 p.m. local time, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue received 911 calls about a drowning incident near the B Ocean Resort beach.
Although the ocean rescue team had ended their shift at 7 p.m., officials quickly turned their trucks around and rushed to the scene. “They were the first responders from our fire rescue department,” said Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Daniel Moran, according to NBC affiliate WFLA.
Antwon Wilson, 33, entered the water after his two children appeared to be in distress, a Fort Lauderdale police spokeswoman told PEOPLE. His daughter was struggling in the water when another man, Eslam Saad, also jumped in to help but became overwhelmed and was pulled underwater before managing to rescue himself, CBS News Miami reported.
“Both children were ultimately rescued. One child and the Good Samaritan were transported to the hospital, both awake and responsive at last check,” the police spokeswoman said.
Saad, the Good Samaritan, told Fox affiliate WSVN, “I didn’t think about anything. I didn’t even tell my wife I was going back in the water. I just jumped in.” He added, “I tried my best to get her closer to shore. When I got close, I told her, ‘Please don’t panic, I’ll do my best to get you out.’”
After bringing the child closer to shore, lifeguards took over.
Tragically, Wilson did not resurface after going underwater and was found minutes later. He was pulled to shore where paramedics performed life-saving measures. Wilson, one of his daughters, and Saad were all taken to Broward Health Medical Center, but Wilson was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Saad recalled, “Once I got to the hospital and they confirmed I was okay, I asked about them, and they told me her dad was already gone.”
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is investigating the death, which currently appears to be an accidental drowning, the spokeswoman said.
