46-year-old Massachusetts native dies a hero while saving the lives of his children

A 46-year-old Massachusetts native died Wednesday afternoon while heroically saving his two young children from a dangerous rip current.

According to the Bangor Daily News, the incident occurred around 3:25 p.m. at Juno Beach, Florida in an unguarded section of the beach as Ryan Jennings was swimming with his wife Emily and their children while on vacation. He, his 12-year-old son, and 9-year-old daughter were suddenly pulled away by the strong current. Witnesses say Jennings threw his son toward shore, pushing him out of the rip current, and then lifted his daughter high above the water, holding her over his head until rescuers could reach her. Both children survived, but Jennings tragically drowned.

According to a GoFundMe fundraiser that has raised over $160,000 as of this writing, “Ryan was not only Emily’s soul mate, but also a loving father and friend to many. 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.”

The couple has three children with one on the way.

Ryan grew up in the Springfield/Longmeadow area and moved to Maine a decade ago to be near family.

Services have not yet been announced.