Man drowns saving daughter in Florida surf
JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. --The Michigan father who drowned after saving his young daughter from the rough surf at Jacksonville Beach in Florida was in town for his father's memorial service, family said,CBS affiliate WJAX reported.
Police said William Moritz, 28, ran into the water to rescue his 6-year-old daughter on Saturday.
A GoFundMe Page for Moritz, who goes by Bill, said he dove into the ocean to rescue his daughter after she was pulled into the water.
"As a result of saving Maddy's life he ultimately lost his," Nicole Doherty, a close family friend, wrote on the GoFundMe Page.
Maddy was taken to Wolfson Children's Hospital and was released Saturday night.
Maddy's mother, Magan, tells WJAX, Moritz's dad died two weeks ago.
Moritz and his daughter were at the beach where family planned to hold a memorial service for Moritz's father later that day.
Magan said Moritz was very close with his father, and took his daughter to visit him once a year.
The service was canceled after family learned of Moritz's death, WJAX reported.
Magan, who lives in Michigan, released a statement after Moritz's death:
"Bill was the most kind hearted selfless person I knew. Always there for his friends and family. There was never a time he didn't put others before himself. Anyone could depend on Bill for anything in the world. He was the kind of person people were so grateful to have in their life and I was so lucky to have him in mine," the statement read. "His daughter was his world and he always spoke of her with sparkle in his eyes. He took pride in being a father everyday. Madelynn was his world. Such an amazing man who I now look to as my hero for courageously saving our beautiful daughters life."
She flew to Jacksonville to be with her daughter, and said she is making arrangements for a funeral for Moritz in Detroit.