Bryce Brooks had a way of making everyone feel like they were his closest friend.
On April 6, 2023, at Johnson Beach in Pensacola, a 16-year-old boy from Atlanta showed immense kindness and courage by risking his own life to rescue a group of children who were caught in a dangerous rip tide.
Alfred “Shivy” Brooks II and Crystal Brooks were not present during his absence as they had allowed him to go on a vacation with family friends.
Bryce found himself in the water, courageously attempting to rescue a group of kids. Unfortunately, the group lost sight of him amidst the chaos. In a selfless act of bravery, Bryce’s uncle, Charles “Chuck” Johnson II, dove in to save him. Tragically, both heroes lost their lives that fateful day. A year later, Bryce’s family paid tribute to his valor, cherishing his memory as the guardian he had always been.
A balloon release was organized in honor of him at Maynard Jackson High School on April 6, attended by family and friends.
According to his father, Shivy, who also serves on the Atlanta Public School Board, the passing of his son had a profound effect on the entire school community.
According to him, the Southeast Atlanta community is known for its strong sense of unity and support. This was evident in the incredible support his family received following Bryce’s passing, both a year ago and on April 6th.
As parents who have experienced the heartbreaking loss of our children, there is a natural inclination to isolate ourselves and blame ourselves for what happened. However, I realized that it was important to create a safe and supportive environment for my family to heal alongside our community.
Teenager didn’t hesitate to rescue other children in need
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On the day Bryce passed away, he had a video chat with his mom around noon. Just a few hours later, his parents received a distressing call informing them that the group he was with had been unable to locate him at the beach.
He and a group of friends noticed children in distress and immediately jumped into the water to provide assistance. Unfortunately, Bryce was caught in a powerful current and had disappeared from sight for quite some time.
Bryce’s uncle was discovered first, and individuals in the vicinity made attempts to administer CPR to him without success. It was only after his parents were notified that they realized Bryce had been missing for a duration of 20 minutes.
Bryce was eventually found and airlifted, according to his father, Shivy. The news of the airlift brought a glimmer of hope to the family. However, Shivy also recognized the grim reality of the situation. Being submerged for more than four minutes carries a significant risk of brain damage, even if one manages to survive. The outlook was not promising.
Teenager was gentle, loving ‘Fortnite king’ who acted like a father to his little brother
According to Crystal, Bryce’s mother, he was a kind and affectionate person who treated everyone with love and kindness. He didn’t have any enemies and had a welcoming attitude towards everyone he met.
According to his mother, he was an avid gamer who had a passion for building his own computer. He would spend hours playing Minecraft and was particularly enamored with Fortnite.
During an interview with USA TODAY on Wednesday, his mother laughed and jokingly referred to him as the “Fortnite king.” She shared an amusing incident where he attempted to play the game for a whopping 12 hours straight.
He took his role as a big brother seriously, always looking out for his younger brother Christian, who is now 7 years old.
They would often play together, and whenever their mom couldn’t locate them, she knew to check one of their bedrooms. There, she would find them engaged in activities such as watching TV, playing on their tablets, or taking a nap.
Their mother reminisced about how her older son always took care of his younger sibling. She fondly recalled the countless instances when she had to remind him that he was not his brother’s parent, but rather his big brother.
Whenever they went out and Christian wanted to indulge a bit, Bryce would step in before their mother had a chance to say anything and say, “No need for more sugar,” or “Take it easy.”
He had a passion for fashion and dreamed of launching his own clothing line. He also aspired to study music production at Clark Atlanta University. Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole were among his favorite artists whom he drew inspiration from.
Family remembers teenager with foundation pushing for water safety
In addition to commemorating the one-year anniversary of Bryce’s passing, his family took a significant step forward by establishing the Bryce Brooks Foundation. The foundation was created to provide scholarships to high school seniors, a dream that Bryce, who tragically passed away at the age of 16, was unable to fulfill.
The nonprofit organization requests that applicants create videos to illustrate the concept of heroism. Additionally, the organization provides swimming education to community members, ensuring their safety in water bodies.
According to Shivy, the applications for this year are expected to open soon.
“We plan to award a few scholarships during his upcoming graduation ceremony,” he mentioned. “Having been elected to the school board in December, I have been given the opportunity to address the graduating class.”
‘So many people drowned that weekend’
According to his parents, who are both farmer lifeguards, Bryce didn’t have extensive training and wasn’t the most skilled swimmer. However, they have taken extra precautions to ensure that his younger brother, Christian, remains in the pool and learns how to navigate the water safely.
“It was truly shocking to learn about what he did, especially considering the fact that he wasn’t the strongest swimmer,” his father expressed.
The beach derives its name from Rosamond Johnson, a valiant soldier who courageously fought in the Korean War. At the tender age of 17, he tragically lost his life on July 26, 1950, while selflessly saving two soldiers. His heroic act came to an unfortunate end as he made an attempt to rescue a third soldier. Bryce’s father finds it ironic that his son met his untimely demise at this very beach, considering the valiant sacrifices made by Rosamond Johnson.
The parents expressed their belief that the officials at Johnson Beach could have taken additional measures to alert swimmers about the hazardous conditions.
“They didn’t even bother changing the flags until they had to rescue another group of people after Bryce and Chuck,” his father lamented. “It’s almost as if they didn’t care about our child and Chuck drowning.”
According to WEAR-TV, four individuals were reportedly caught in rip currents and pulled approximately 100 yards into the water over the weekend. As of now, Escambia County has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding this incident.
Bryce’s parents expressed their admiration for him, calling him a hero.
“Our boys demonstrate their heroism on a daily basis, and I urge everyone – parents, teachers, and community members – to recognize the heroes that surround them. Let us celebrate and show our love for them, cherishing their presence each day,” expressed his father.
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