A father was electrocuted to death after jumping into a fountain to save his two children. Nate Davenport, 45, of Jupiter, Florida, died at the Harborside Place shopping and dining complex on Sunday afternoon, October 22. At least two of her children started playing in the fountain when they started screaming.
At that moment, the US Navy fighter pilot had to take action. He reached into the water to pull out his children, who were being shocked by the electric current. He managed to save his two sons, 8 and 11 years old, but was electrocuted.
The two brothers, a third child, Nate, and another person were all injured, and the father and businessman later died at Jupiter Medical Center after not regaining consciousness. He passed away before his wife, Amy, and children could say goodbye. The children were taken to St. Mary's Medical Center, where they are being monitored for elevated enzyme levels.
Davenport worked with his mother Mary and father Robert in the family business, RGD Consulting Engineers. Nate's mother, Mary Davenport, told WPBF, "The kids started screaming; we were in shock, so he jumped in to save them." “He caused harm to his children. We spent 45 years with him. God has blessed us with him. He is an extraordinary man.
It is unclear exactly what led to the electrocution. A Harborside Place spokesperson said the incident did not happen at the splash pad but at the fountain, which has signs warning of “no climbing” and “no swimming,” WPTV reported. The fountain is separated from the paddling pool by a small wall.
Davenport, wife and kids
Jupiter police said they are investigating the electrocution with assistance from the city's building department, Harborside Place, and Florida Power & Light. Harborside Place chief executive Nick Mastroianni said the situation was a “tragedy”. He added: “Our focus is on the people involved and their families. “We are asking the community to join us in praying for them.
Davenport's brother-in-law, Mike Bishop, said Nate "did exactly what we expected of him." And hopefully you know any father would do that, but he, especially his personality, that's just who he is. Mary Davenport added, “We have received a lot of calls and emails.
From customers, from friends, from other contractors, from subcontractors—people who just told me how much Nate meant to them and how much of an impact he had on their lives. And that was a blessing for us,” she told the outlet.