Bryce Brooks had a way of making everyone feel like they were his best friend.
On April 6, 2023, at Johnson Beach in Pensacola, a 16-year-old boy from Atlanta exhibited his kindness and protective nature by risking his own life to rescue a group of children who were caught in a rip tide.
Alfred “Shivy” Brooks II and Crystal Brooks had decided to let him go on vacation with family friends, so they weren’t present.
Bryce found himself in the water, desperately attempting to rescue a group of kids who had lost sight of him. In a courageous act, his uncle, Charles “Chuck” Johnson II, jumped in to save him. Tragically, both Bryce and his uncle lost their lives that fateful day. A year later, Bryce’s family paid tribute to his bravery and remembered him as the protector he had always been.
A special event was organized on April 6th at Maynard Jackson High School to honor him, where his family and friends gathered to release balloons.
Shivy, who serves on the Atlanta Public School Board, expressed the profound impact his son’s passing had on the entire school community.
Southeast Atlanta proved to be a remarkably close-knit community, as evidenced by the overwhelming support they extended to his family following Bryce’s passing. This support has been consistently shown over the past year and was particularly evident on April 6th.
As parents who have experienced the unimaginable loss of a child, there is a natural inclination to isolate oneself and harbor guilt. However, he recognized the importance of fostering a healing environment for his family, alongside the support of the community.
More on Bryce: A brave Atlanta teenager tragically lost his life while attempting to save four children from drowning in the waters of Florida.
Teenager didn’t hesitate to rescue other children in need
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Bryce’s parents received a call a few hours after he had spoken to his mom via video chat around noon, informing them that the group he was with couldn’t locate him at the beach on the day he died.
Bryce and a group of his friends noticed some children in distress and immediately jumped into action to provide assistance. Unfortunately, Bryce got caught in the powerful currents and disappeared from sight for a while.
Bryce’s uncle was the first to be discovered, and despite the efforts of those nearby to administer CPR, their attempts were unsuccessful. It was only after his parents were notified that they realized Bryce had been missing for a distressing 20 minutes.
Bryce was eventually located and airlifted to safety, according to his father, Shivy. “When we heard that he was being airlifted, there was a glimmer of hope,” Shivy shared with USA TODAY. However, he also acknowledged the potential risks associated with being submerged for more than four minutes. “Even if you manage to survive, there’s a high probability of brain damage. It wasn’t a promising situation.”
Teenager was gentle, loving ‘Fortnite king’ who acted like a father to his little brother
According to Bryce’s mother, Crystal, he was a loving and gentle person who didn’t have any enemies. He had a welcoming and inclusive nature, embracing everyone he came across.
According to his mother, he was a passionate gamer who even went as far as building his own computer. She mentioned that he enjoyed playing Minecraft and had a particular fondness for Fortnite.
During an interview with USA TODAY on Wednesday, his mother laughed and referred to him as the “Fortnite king,” mentioning that he once attempted to play the game for a straight 12 hours.
He took his role as a big brother seriously, always looking out for his younger brother Christian, who is now 7 years old.
The siblings would often spend time together, and if their mother couldn’t locate them, she knew to look in one of their bedrooms. It was not uncommon to find them watching TV, playing on their tablets, or taking a nap.
“He was always watching out for him,” their mother remarked. “There were numerous occasions when I had to remind him, ‘You know, you’re not his parent. You’re his older brother.'”
Whenever they went out and Christian wanted to do something extra, Bryce would quickly interject before their mother could, saying, “No, you don’t need any more sugar” or “Just calm down.”
He had a passion for fashion and dreamt of launching his own clothing line. Alongside this, he aspired to study music production at Clark Atlanta University. His playlist was filled with the captivating tunes of Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole.
Family remembers teenager with foundation pushing for water safety
Last year, in remembrance of Bryce a year after his passing, his family took the initiative to establish the Bryce Brooks Foundation. The foundation aims to provide scholarships to graduating seniors, a dream that Bryce, who passed away at the young age of 16, was unable to fulfill.
Applicants are requested by the nonprofit to create videos in order to express their understanding of what it truly means to be a hero. In addition, the organization extends its support to community members by providing swimming education, ensuring their safety when engaging in water activities.
Shivy mentioned that applications for this year should be opening up soon.
“We will be awarding scholarships at his upcoming graduation ceremony, which is scheduled for next month,” he shared. “In December, I was elected to the school board, so I am honored to have the opportunity to deliver a speech at his graduation.”
‘So many people drowned that weekend’
Bryce’s parents, who are both farmer lifeguards, mentioned that he wasn’t the most skilled swimmer and had limited training. Despite this, they are now focused on ensuring that his younger brother, Christian, remains in the pool and learns how to navigate the water safely.
According to his father, the most surprising aspect of the incident was not only what he did, but also the level of bravery it required. It should be noted that he was not particularly skilled in swimming.
The beach holds the name of Rosamond Johnson, a brave soldier who fought in the Korean War. Sadly, he lost his life at the young age of 17 on July 26, 1950, while attempting to save a fellow soldier. Prior to his ultimate sacrifice, Rosamond had already rescued two soldiers. Reflecting on this tragic event, Bryce’s father finds it ironic that his son met a similar fate at the very same beach.
According to his parents, officials at Johnson Beach could have taken additional measures to alert swimmers about the hazardous conditions.
“My father expressed his frustration, pointing out that the flags were not changed even after another incident where Bryce and Chuck had to be rescued. He emphasized how disheartening it was that the drowning of our child and Chuck did not prompt immediate action.”
Escambia County has yet to respond to requests for comment. However, as reported by WEAR-TV, four individuals were swept 100 yards into the water by powerful rip currents during that particular weekend.
Bryce’s parents hailed him as a hero.
“Every day, our boys display acts of heroism, and I urge everyone – parents, teachers, and community members – to recognize the heroes that surround us. Let us celebrate and show our love for them, cherishing their presence each day,” expressed his father.
To get in touch with the Bryce Brooks Foundation, you can reach out to them at (404) 889-1269 or send an email to [email protected].
If you would like to support the cause of the nonprofit, you can visit www.tinyurl.com/BryceBrooks to make a donation.
Saleen Martin, a talented reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team, hails from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. You can connect with her on Twitter by following @SaleenMartin or reach out to her via email at [email protected].
Family honors the memory of a brave teenager who lost his life while rescuing children caught in powerful currents at a Florida beach.
