A one-time police officer and former Baltimore Orioles minor leaguer died over the weekend helping to rescue swimmers caught in a rip current off the South Carolina coast, officials said Thursday.
Anderson "Chase" Childers, 38, "lost his life this past weekend in South Carolina while selflessly saving others," his former employers with the Cobb County Police Department in Georgia said in a statement.
Childers was a "devoted husband and father" who "displayed extraordinary courage and selflessness in his last moments," according to his alma mater, Georgia State University.
The tragedy unfolded at about 4:45 p.m. Sunday in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, about 25 miles south of Myrtle Beach.
Childers and one other person jumped into the water to help four or five swimmers "who were in distress," police said.
When the swimmers were safely brought to shore, Childers couldn't be found, officials said.
“Sadly, Mr. Childers was caught in the rip current, as well,” the department added. “He died trying to save others.”
Police, Midway Fire Rescue and Coast Guard searchers found Childers at about 6:15 p.m., authorities said.
"We have the family in our prayers," police said.
Childers played four years at Georgia State and is the school's all-time leader in walks (120) and No. 2 overall in sacrifices (28). The scrappy second baseman hit .307 with a .405 on-base percentage and slugged .467 in his senior season in 2009.
Childers joined the Baltimore Orioles organization and played on the team's Gulf Coast League affiliate and the Bluefield Orioles of the Appalachian League before hanging up his spikes.
He worked for the Cobb County Police Department between 2011 and 2014.
"Even after leaving law enforcement, Chase continued to serve," Cobb County police said.
"His actions this past weekend were not out of character, they were the embodiment of the same bravery and commitment he showed every day as an officer. His sacrifice is the highest form of honor, and we could not be prouder to call him one of our own."
He's survived by his wife, Nataley, and their three children, police said.
