Joshua Bennett, a 34-year-old husband and father of four with ties to New Hampshire and Massachusetts, died Monday after his vehicle became submerged in floodwaters during historic rainfall in Palm Bay, Florida according to family accounts and local reports.
Bennett was trapped in his truck on San Filippo Drive as rising river waters surrounded the vehicle, authorities said. His wife, Stacy Petit Bennett, told WESH that he FaceTimed her in distress, telling her he was in the middle of a river and did not know what to do. The call dropped, and she spent hours seeking help. His body was later located in the submerged vehicle.
Bennett leaves behind his wife, a stay-at-home mother, a son, and three daughters, three of whom have special needs and require ongoing specialized care. The couple met in college; they married in 2020 and had twin girls who were born prematurely. Stacy Petit Bennett described her husband as a devoted father who loved doing activities with his children, baking with his daughters, and taking them out on his personal watercraft.
Family members are working to bring Bennett’s remains home to New Hampshire, his native state.
A GoFundMe fundraiser is aiming to help with housing, care for the children, and stability for the family.
“Josh was generous, adventurous, and always wanted to make sure the people around him felt comfortable and cared for. He loved his family deeply, especially his children. Along with being a husband, brother, and friend, he was a loving father, and we want to honor the love he had for his family as we come together to support them.”
The flooding, which brought nearly 20 inches of rain in parts of Brevard County, stranded vehicles and residents and led to dozens of rescues.
