Heroic Maine dad drowns while trying to save his daughters, aged 12 and 13, who struggled to swim in deep pond
- Henry Brooks, 46, was spending Saturday with his family at Seven Tree Pond in Union, Maine, when one of his daughters fell into deep water while swimming
- Brooks, from Hope, and his son, 27, raced to save the girls in the water
A father from Maine has died after drowning in deep water while trying to save his two daughters, aged 12 and 13, who were struggling to swim in a pond.
Henry Brooks, 46, was spending Saturday with his family at Seven Tree Pond in Union, Maine, when one of his daughters fell into deep water while swimming.
His second daughter, who was already in the water, tried to grab the first but they both got swept by the currents into an even deeper portion of the pond.
Brooks, from Hope, Maine, and his son, 27, raced to save the girls in the water in Ayer Park after hearing their cries for help.
A stock image of Seven Tree Pond in Union, Maine, where the father died on Saturday trying to save his two daughters
Henry Brooks, 46, and his family were spending the weekend at the pond (pictured)
The 27-year-old, who grabbed a life jacket, caught his sisters and brought them to a nearby dock – but when he looked for his father, he couldn’t find him.
A dive team later located Brooks’ body about 50 feet from shore at 7.30pm. The water was seven feet deep, according to the Maine Warden Service.
Brooks’ daughters and son were brought to PenBay Medical Center for observation following the ordeal.
Brooks’ body was taken to Halls Funeral Home in Waldoboro, Maine.
The local community came together on social media to pay their respects for the father, who died saving his family.
One person wrote: ‘Wow super sad..what a great dad to risk his own life to save there’s.. that’s a true hero…rip…. Condolences to the family.’
Another person added: ‘Prayers and my deepest heart felt condolences to the families of this courageous man.’
A third added: ‘This is so sad. The son with a life jacket managed to save his sisters. The dad and brother were both heroes.’
