Dad-of-four electrocuted to death pulling his kids from water fountain
A father-of-four heroically saved his children from a faulty and electrified water fountain, but did not survive the electrocution himself.
Nate Davenport, 45, was with his three youngest kids at the Harbourside Place shopping center in Jupiter, Florida, where they played on a splash pad.
Suddenly, his children started screaming, ‘We’re getting shocked, we’re getting shocked’, his mother Mary Davenport told WPBF.
Nate ‘rushed in to save them’, his wife said. He pulled two of his sons out of the fountain and got shocked, as did others who tried to help with the rescue.
He and three children, including his eight and 11-year-old sons, and another adult were rushed to a nearby trauma center.
Nate did not regain consciousness, and was pronounced dead at the hospital on Sunday.
‘He took a hit for his kids,’ Mary said. ‘We had 45 years with him. God blessed us with him. He’s an amazing man.’
His older son who was shocked was expected to be released from the hospital. Both of his boys were being monitored for elevated enzyme levels, she said.
A Harbourside Place spokesperson told the TV station that the children were injured in a fountain near a stage that had ‘no climbing’ signs, instead of in a splash pad.
Police did not immediately provide details on the incident.
Nate served in the Iraq War and was a Navy veteran. He enjoyed going boating, having breakfast on Sundays with his parents and being a father.
‘He’s loyal. He’s a good father. He’s a great husband. He loves Jesus,’ Mary said. ‘And yeah, he gave his life for his kids.’
Nate became president of RGD Consulting Engineers, which was founded by his father. He died days before his family was set to move to a new home.
‘We obviously know that he did exactly what we would expect him to do,’ said his brother-in-law Mike Bishop, who works at RGD.
‘And you know what any father would do, hopefully, but him, especially just his character, that’s what he was.’
Nate’s death comes a few months after a father-of-three and 9/11 survivor drowned trying to save children after a boat capsized on Lake Michigan.
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