A former baseball player and police officer tragically lost his life while saving five people from drowning in a rip current on Pawleys Island, South Carolina, leading many to express their sincere condolences online and pray for his family in the wake of the loss, including the Pawleys Island Police Department.
For background, Chase Childers, 38, drowned on July 13, 2025, after he got in the water on the beach at Pawleys Island, South Carolina, to save five people who were in extreme distress in a rip current. Childers previously served as a police officer and played baseball for the Baltimore Orioles in their minor league system.
In a statement published on behalf of Childers’ family on July 15, 2025, Jordan Hester Wicker described the loss as “surreal, incredibly hard to grasp, and profoundly unfair,” adding, “Chase Childers was a remarkably talented man of many things. He was a former professional baseball player with the Baltimore Orioles, a police officer in Cobb County who received a lifetime achievement award for saving several lives, a skilled fisherman, and a builder capable of constructing anything he envisioned.”
Continuing, Wicker described Childers as “a loving son, a dedicated brother, a treasured friend, an exceptional father to his three wonderful children, and the husband of his beautiful wife, Nataley Childers, who had been his soulmate and best friend since they were teenagers.” Moreover, Wicker explained that Childers had passed away when he “saved a family of five in a moment of crisis in Pawleys Island on Sunday afternoon, putting their lives above his own.”
Furthermore, Wicker explained that Childers gave “everything he had” to save the family in peril, but was “unable to stay above water as the rip tide swept him away, ultimately paying the highest sacrifice with his life in front of his three children and wife.” Wicker continued, “His bravery, kindness, and love will always be remembered.”
In addition, Wicker called for prayers for the Childers family and launched a GoFundMe to support his wife and children, which has since raised over $135,000. In response to the tragedy, Brian Henry, Pawleys Island Mayor, wrote, “The Town is saddened by the report of the drowning over the weekend. We pray for the family members and offer our condolences.”
Moreover, the Pawleys Island Police Department issued a statement on July 13, 2025, providing further background on the tragedy. They wrote, “At apx 4:45 p.m. we received a call for multiple swimmers in distress near Shell Rd Ocean. One person was missing & a search was initiated by @MidwayFireResQ & PIPD. @USCG arrived on scene to assist.” The statement continued, “At apx 6:15 the missing man was recovered. We have the family in our prayers.”
In addition, commenters on X offered prayers and support for Childers’ family and thanked the police for their work. The user Elizabeth Bramon wrote, “Always so sad to see praying for them and all those who responded.” Another commenter added, “Praying for the families. Thanks for all you do.”
Featured image credit: Chase Childers via Facebook