Father of 3 Drowns While Saving a Family of 5 in Pawleys Island

Chase Childers, a 38-year-old husband and father of three young children drowned on July 13th, 2025 while saving a family a five from a deadly rip current on Litchfield Beach in Pawleys Island, South Carolina.

According to Pawleys Island Police Department, officers received a 911 call at approximately 4:45pm for multiple swimmers in distress. One person was reported missing, now identified as Chase Childers, and a search was initiated by Midway Fire Rescue and Pawleys Island PD. At approximately 6:15pm, Chase Childers was recovered from the water.

A former first responder who was also in the vicinity ran into the ocean with Chase to help the family of five who were all caught in the rip current. Chase and the man worked one by one to bring all five of the family members to safety. On their final way back to the beach, the former first responder returned but Chase was nowhere to be found.

Susan Mitchell, a board member of the United Patriots Alliance and aunt to Chase’s wife, Nataley Childers, has written a letter detailing the events of the day and has set up a petition to encourage local government to enact beach safety measures.

Nataley Childers was told by the former first responder that Chase was next to him when there were swimming back the beach and that both of them were exhausted and fighting to stay afloat. The man told Nataley that Chase was there one second and gone the next. He apologized to Nataley, stating that he couldn’t help Chase because he barely has the strength to save himself and he was deeply sorry. You can read the entire tragic events in Mitchell’s letter HERE.

Chase Childers was an active man who was a fisherman, builder, as well as a former police officer and former minor league baseball player. Above all, Childers is also remembered as a devoted husband, father, and friend.

Unfortunately, this horrific tragedy is becoming more frequent in this area, as five people have drowned in the past 26 months.

Since Chase’s death, Mitchell’s petition has received over 2,000 signatures and is growing rapidly. In her letter, Mitchell recommends implementing safety measures that include a colored flag warning system, rip current and hazard signs at access points, digital and broadcast alerts, and lifeguard stations. Several beaches in South Carolina have many of these measures already in use.

One commenter by the name of “John” stated that he was in the same beach area when the search and recovery was made. John noted the absence of life preservers and how there may have been a different outcome if a preserver had been available:

“I was nearby on the shoreline during the search and recovery of Chase on Sunday. Witnessing his final moments has left an indelible mark on me and the island. My thoughts have been with his family ever since and always will be anytime we visit the island. The notable absence of life preservers, especially on the north end of the island, must be addressed. Had he and the other bystander had a flotation device readily available, there likely would have been a different outcome. At the very least, Pawleys Island should ensure life preservers are available at a fixed interval along the beachfront, ideally at the end of the dock of every home on the island. Knowing where these are and educating their use would help in supporting this outcome never happens again.”

Another family member has set up a GoFundMe page for Chase’s widow and three children. Check out that page HERE.

While it is not the government’s job to mandate the actions of its citizens, it is imperative that the lives of South Carolinians and out-of-state visitors are not left in undue peril as a result of poorly allocated taxpayer money. We encourage you to sign the petition asking Pawleys Island and Georgetown County to use a portion of their allocated tax dollars to provide life-saving resources and information that could prevent another drowning.

If we are going to tax our citizens, why not put that money to good use?

Article posted with permission from Alaina Moore

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