On Father’s Day, a parking dispute turned deadly on the beach in front of B Ocean Resort. 33-year-old Antwon Wilson died in a heroic rescue while saving his daughter from drowning. The tragedy unfolded around 7:30 PM, shortly after lifeguards had concluded their shifts for the day.
Antwon Wilson was enjoying a lovely day at the beach with his two young kids. They turned from calm to panicking in the water. Witnesses described how the kids began to panic in the water. Wilson did not think twice before jumping into the ocean to save his daughter, who was near drowning. Despite fighting tooth and nail to get her to safety in a last ditch effort, the stormy seas quickly proved too much for him.
Eslam Saad, one of the people nearby who jumped in to help, described the terrifying scene. “I would do the same thing no matter the consequences,” Saad stated, reflecting on the bravery displayed during the rescue attempt.
Sadly for their valiant attempts, Antwon Wilson went under after making sure his daughter was out of harm’s way. Lifeguards had just cleared the scene roughly 20 minutes prior. They turned around just in time to heroically save Wilson’s daughter from drowning in the process. Tragically, Wilson could not be located immediately.
The rescuers soon located Antwon Wilson and escorted him to shore, where he was treated for his medical emergency. Both he and his daughter, as well as Saad, were taken to a local hospital. For matters outside of his control, Antwon Wilson, unfortunately, was pronounced dead soon after arrival.
Since this tragedy occurred, those family members have expressed the immeasurable grief they are facing. They are burdened with gratitude for the love that Wilson showed exactly one year ago today. Perhaps the most painful account came from his grandmother. For that, my God I say thank you. I’ll never forget the wonderful moments that we had together.
The incident serves as a solemn reminder of the dangers present at beaches and the heroic lengths parents may go to protect their children. His heroism was shown through his concern for others, and though the community lost him, his selfless act of bravery will never be forgotten.