Navy Sailor Rescued His 9-Year-Old Son from High Surf, Told Him ‘Don’t Give Up’ Before Drowning

A Navy sailor has died after saving his young son from dangerous surf off the coast of Hawaii.

Master-at-Arms 1st Class Jeffrey Diaz, 47, of Florida, was stationed at Hawaii’s Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands. The Kaua‘i Police Department identified him in a release on Monday, Nov. 24.

According to police, first responders were called to Waiapua‘a Bay on Saturday, Nov. 22, for a report of a swimmer in distress. Diaz had gone into the water to help two children who were struggling in the high surf.

Rescuers eventually pulled Diaz from the water and attempted life-saving measures before transporting him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy is pending to determine his exact cause of death, though authorities said foul play is not suspected.

Diaz’s family told Hawaii News Now that he was at the beach with his children when a strong wave pulled his 9-year-old son, Kamden, out into the water.

Diaz’s partner of 18 years, Keyonna Fairley, said he swam out to reach Kamden while telling his older son to head back to shore. Fairley recounted that Diaz put Kamden on his back and tried to swim them both to safety but began to tire in the rough conditions.

“ ‘I want you to go. I want you to swim. Don’t stop. You got this. Don’t give up. I love you,’ ” Fairley recalled Diaz telling Kamden. “That was the last words he heard from his dad. Told him, ‘Don’t give up, you got this.’ ”

As he swam toward land, Kamden looked back to check on his father. “He said, ‘Mom, he was so far and he was yelling ‘help.’ He was screaming, ‘Help, help!’ ” Fairley said.

Diaz shared three children with Fairley and also had two older children and a grandchild, according to Hawaii News Now. The family said he died just one day before his 48th birthday. Fairley added that the couple had planned to marry and retire in Hawaii.

“If you ask anybody that knew Jeff, they would say that he just wanted to be with his family. Retire, walk his kids to school, and grill,” she said.

In a statement to Hawaii News Now, Capt. Robert Prince, commanding officer of the Pacific Missile Range Facility, said they are “heartbroken by the passing of our shipman and friend, MA1 First Class Jeffrey Diaz and extend our sincerest condolences to the family, friends and shipmen who are grieving.”

He added that they are grateful for the emergency responders, sailors and families who rushed to help and that the facility remains committed to supporting Diaz’s loved ones and colleagues “as we navigate this difficult time together.”