On July 14, 2019, with Tropical Storm Barry going on a few states away, Fred Pepperman, 53, noticed one of his daughters, Grace, 16, was carried out by a riptide in Florida. His other 2 daughters, Olivia, 20, and Kathryn, 24, also jumped into the water to help but was also caught in the riptide.
A fourth daughter, Mallory, 22, and Fred got into the water to help with the rescue. As Fred approached Grace in the water, she said, "Help me, daddy!" Fred replied, "I got you." After Fred managed to get all 3 daughters back to shore, he drowned.
CPR was performed, but Fred was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
The South Walton Fire District had issued a double red flag warning that day at the private (Seacrest and Miramar area) Florida beach, but the family, who was from Maryville, Tennessee, and celebrating their 28th wedding anniversary, didn't see the flags.
A GoFundMe account was set up to help the family.