A FORMER MLB prospect died a hero after jumping into brutal waters to save a family, and was caught in a rip current in front of his wife and kids.
The former baseball player lost his life tragically while on vacation with his family on Sunday.
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Anderson “Chase” Childers, 39, who played in the Baltimore Orioles system, died in front of his wife and three children saving a family of five from a riptideCredit: Facebook
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Childers was swept away by the tide in front of his wife, NataleyCredit: Facebook
Ex-MLB prospect Anderson “Chase” Childers, 39, was vacationing with his wife and three children in South Carolina when a woman asked him to help rescue swimmers who were stuck in the riptide, his family told Charleston NBC affiliate WCBD.
Childers, who was also a former police officer, instantly ran to the water to help the group.
“His first responder instincts kicked in and he went to the water to save people,” Pawleys Island Police Chief Michael Fanning said.
Childers and another individual helped the swimmers, identified as a family of five, return to shore safely at the vacation spot just south of Myrtle Beach.
However, Childers disappeared in the water and was swept away by the riptide in front of his wife, Nataley, and their three kids.
The Coast Guard recovered Childers’ body about 90 minutes after he was last seen, the Pawley Police Department said in a statement on X.
A GoFundMe has been set up to support Childers, and $130,000-plus has been raised as of Thursday evening.
“As a devoted husband and father, he displayed extraordinary courage and selflessness. In a heroic act, he saved a family of five in a moment of crisis in Pawleys Island on Sunday afternoon, putting their lives above his own,” the post read.
“His bravery, kindness, and love will always be remembered.”
Childers was born in Nashville, Tennessee, before his family moved to Kennesaw, Georgia.
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He played baseball for North Cobb Christian High School and Georgia State University, per the school’s website.
In 2009, Childers joined the Baltimore Orioles farm system, where he played second base and shortstop.
He left baseball a year later to become a uniformed patrol officer for the Cobb County Police Department.
Childers received the Cobb County Police Department Life Saving Award in 2013.
How to stay safe in the water
PICK YOUR SPOT
Outdoor swimming coach and open water lifeguard Rowan Clarke says:
“Pick a safe spot where lots of people swim.
“Find out about tides, water quality, and local laws. Look for local Facebook groups, website,s and signs for information.
“Strong currents, tides, underwater objects, bad water quality, and algae are all things to watch out for.”
DON’T GO ALONE
Kate Rew, author of The Outdoor Swimmers’ Handbook, says to make sure someone is with you.
“Experienced swimmers often go alone, but as a newbie you will almost certainly want a friend with you or on the shore,” she says.
“If you don’t know anyone who wants to swim, there are wild swim groups all over the country to join.”
WATCH YOUR KIDS
Clarke adds:
“Kids get cold more quickly than adults and may be bad at telling you they’re cold because they’re having so much fun.
“Keep them within arm’s reach and watch them at all times.
“Keep in your depth so you can touch the bottom and support them.”
“We are saddened to learn of Chase’s passing, and send our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones,” an Orioles spokesperson told Atlanta news station WANF.
Childers’ death was the fifth drowning on Pawleys Island since June 2023, and the second in the last month, WCBD-TV reported.
Police on the island said they are taking more precautions to ensure the public’s safety for the future.
“We’re going to put up extra signage in the areas that are prone to these rip currents. We have life rings at all beach accesses, but I think we need to increase life rings in certain areas that are hazard-prone,” the Pawleys police chief said.
If one gets caught in a rip current, authorities advise “don’t panic, swim parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current.
“Then make your way back in.”
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Childers played in the Baltimore Orioles’ farm system for one year before becoming a uniformed patrol officer for three yearsCredit: Facebook