A highly regarded former police officer and one-time minor league player for the Baltimore Orioles has tragically passed away while saving swimmers from a dangerous rip current along South Carolina’s coast.

Chase Childers, who was 38 years old, is being hailed as a hero after he lost his life attempting to rescue several swimmers near Pawleys Island on July 13. Others also rushed to assist the swimmers, but Childers, unlike them, did not make it back to the shore. Emergency crews recovered Childers’ body roughly 90 minutes after the first call for help was received.

Former police officer Chase Childers died in a rip current in Pawleys Island, SC after attempting to rescue others.

Pawleys Island Mayor Brian Henry shared the unfortunate news on his Facebook page, expressing the town’s “sadness” over the event and extending prayers to Childers’ family. The mayor also expressed gratitude to the first responders “who worked tirelessly to recover the victim and provide solace to the family.”

“We regret the recent drownings and town council will investigate all means available to mitigate the risk of future occurrences, including efforts to educate visitors on the dangers of rip currents,” Henry wrote. While he used the word “drownings,” there is no indication that anyone other than Childers died in the incident on July 13.

Residents walk past the partially destroyed Pawleys Pier after hurricane Ian swept through Pawleys Island, S.C., Oct. 1, 2022.  (REUTERS/Jonathan Drake)

A GoFundMe page set up in memory of Childers has surpassed its fundraising goal with more than $104,000 in donations. The page says the funds are meant to support Childers’ wife, Nataley, and their children as they “try to heal from the painful loss of Chase, who was tragically taken from this world far too soon and will always be remembered as a hero.”

During his time as an officer in Cobb County, Ga., Childers received a lifetime achievement award. The GoFundMe page notes that he earned the award for “saving several lives,” though it does not go into further detail.