In a heart-wrenching tragedy at Cocoa Beach, Jason DeGray lost his life while heroically saving his son from a powerful rip current. His wife described him as a “hero” after he drowned in the Atlantic Ocean attempting the brave rescue. A passerby who also rushed to help unfortunately perished, despite efforts to bring the child to safety.

The father of three, hailing from Windsor Locks, Connecticut, managed to reach his 12-year-old son, Bryce, and secure his safety before the unforgiving tide pulled him further out to sea on April 15, as reported by the Connecticut Post.

“Jason was a hero and an amazing dad and partner,” said Meagan DeGray, his devastated widow, in an interview with the local news outlet.

“He was a great father,” Meagan emphasized. “He devoted everything to his children and was incredibly hardworking.”

Jason Michael DeGray, originally from Windsor Locks, Connecticut, was swept away by the dangerous rip current while vacationing in Florida, leaving an indelible mark on those who knew him. (East Windsor Community Funeral Home)

The incident unfolded at the well-known Cocoa Beach, prompting an urgent response from authorities to a water emergency involving four individuals.

Two of the people affected, DeGray and 34-year-old Ebony Mount, a woman from Ohio, were transported to a hospital but died, police said.

“The Cocoa Beach Police Department extends its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones affected by this tragic loss,” the department said in a release.

Meagan DeGray said she was with the couple’s youngest child at a nearby Airbnb when the accident unfolded, telling the Connecticut Post that it was “super traumatic” not being there.

“Jason hated the beach,” the widow said. “He went in because his son was struggling.”

An aerial view shows beachgoers near the pier at Cocoa Beach, Fla., on July 29, 2023. (Paul Hennesy/Anadolu Agency)

DeGray, according to his obituary, was a “die-hard” Las Vegas Raiders fan and spent 25 years working in the flooring industry.

“He grew up with a strong sense of loyalty to family and friends, a trait that defined his life,” the obituary says. “His children Bailey, Bryce, and Brynn were the center of his world, and he cherished every moment spent with them.”

Beachgoers gather on Cocoa Beach in Florida on July 29, 2023. (Paul Hennesy/Anadolu Agency)

According to the National Weather Center, the Florida coast – from south of Palm Coast to Miami – is identified as a high risk for rip currents. 

“Conditions are starting to subside, making the ocean a lot more calm or appearing to look more calm. But those surf conditions have caused significant damage to the sandbars causing flash rip currents,” Brevard County Ocean Rescue Chief Eisen Witcher said.

“It’s very fast, it’s very unexpected, and you can lose your footing very quickly,” he said. “We watch, we try to prevent that as much as we possibly can in our life-guarded areas. Outside of a life-guarded area, it’s very difficult for people from out of town or tourists to know or understand or what to do.”

Two people died in rip currents in Brevard County, Fla., on April 15, 2026. (Getty Images)

The chief said the nearest lifeguard was three-quarters of a mile away at the time of the emergency.

“Right now, we are actively recruiting for more lifeguards. We have been for the better part of two or three months now,” Witcher said, explaining that they have a tryout this weekend. “We’d like to see at least 45 more [lifeguards].”

In situations where there is no nearby lifeguard, calling 911 is your best bet, he said. 

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