A former Georgia police officer and one-time pro baseball player has died after heroically jumping into the ocean to save swimmers caught in a dangerous rip current. Anderson “Chase” Childers, 38, drowned Sunday afternoon off Pawleys Island, South Carolina, after he and another bystander rushed into the water to help several people in distress, according to the Pawleys Island Police Department.
“He died trying to save others,” the department said in a tribute posted to social media. Childers, originally from Kennesaw, Georgia, was living in Paulding County and had previously served as a uniformed patrol officer with the Cobb County Police Department for more than three years, KBTX reports. Before his law enforcement career, Childers was known for his talent on the baseball field.
He played at North Cobb Christian School and later Georgia State University, eventually being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2009. He went on to play in the Orioles’ minor league system, according to Major League Baseball.
“We are saddened to learn of Chase’s passing and send our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones,” the Orioles said in a statement. Tragically, the rescue effort unfolded in front of Childers’ wife and three children. While he succeeded in helping save a family of five, he was ultimately swept away by the strong current.
A GoFundMe set up to support Childers’ wife and children has already raised more than $230,000. The campaign describes him as a devoted father and husband whose final moments were marked by selflessness and courage.
“In a heroic act, he saved a family of five in a moment of crisis… putting their lives above his own,” the fundraiser reads. “Tragically, after giving everything he had, he was unable to stay above water… ultimately paying the highest sacrifice with his life in front of his three children and wife.” “His bravery, kindness, and love will always be remembered.”