Hero father drowns after trying to save his eight-year-old daughter’s life when she got caught in a riptide in Florida
- Thomas Zakrewski, 46, was on vacation with his family in Upper Captiva Island
- His wife, who was walking ahead, looked back to see her husband and daughter
- She jumped in the water and Thomas passed the child to her, then disappeared
- His death will likely be ruled the 13th drowning due to riptides in Florida this year
A hero father lost his own life when he drowned saving his daughter’s life in Florida.
Thomas Zakrewski, 46, was on vacation with his family in Upper Captiva Island, near Fort Myers, when his daughter, eight, got caught in a rip tide while the family were walking on a coastal path.
His wife, who was walking ahead, looked back to see her husband and daughter struggling in the water.
Thomas Zakrewski, 46, was on vacation with his family in Upper Captiva Island, near Fort Myers, when his daughter, eight, got caught in a rip tide while the family were walking on a coastal path. Emergency services were called
She jumped into the water and Zakrewski, from McDonough, Georgia, passed the child to her before disappearing.
Chief Jason Martin, of the Upper Captiva Fire District said his agency received a call about six to eight people in distress.
His body was found about five hours after.
The family had been playing in the surf when they became surrounded in strong currents.
U.S. Coast Guard and Lee County Sheriff’s Officials recovered Zakrewski’s body Tuesday night about half a mile from where he was last seen.
The official cause of death has not been named, but if it is ruled a drowning due to a rip current, it will be the 13th such fatality in Florida this year.
U.S. Coast Guard and Lee County Sheriff’s Officials recovered Zakrewski’s body Tuesday night about half a mile from where he was last seen. The official cause of death has not been named, but if it is ruled a drowning due to a rip current, it will be the 13th such fatality in Florida this year.
There have been 28 deaths due to rip currents in the US this year, with almost have occurring in Florida surf zones.
It comes just two weeks after a woman from Lee County nearly drowned after being caught in a rip current.
Tia Gambrel-Irizarry, 37, was enjoying a day out swimming with her family on June 28 when she was pulled by the riptide.
Most deaths in the area have happened in Florida’s Panhandl. In June, there were three deaths in Panama City Beach and three off Destin beaches.