Who was Nate Davenport? Florida father-of-four dies after rescuing sons from electrified fountain
JUPITER, FLORIDA: Nate Davenport, a veteran of the United States Navy who fought in Iraq, died while attempting to save two of his four children from a fountain at the Harbourside Center in Jupiter, Florida that had somehow become electrified, as reported by the Palm Beach Post.
The Jupiter Police Department and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue responded to a report of a disturbed youngster in the shopping center fountain on Sunday, October 22, afternoon.
Three children, including two sons of Nate, were rushed to St Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, as per the Palm Beach Post.
Nate Davenport joined his father's business in 2008 after he retired from the US Navy
Nate Davenport, who served in the US Navy as a fighter pilot and was an Iraq War veteran, joined his father's company, RGD Consulting Engineers, after leaving the Navy in 2008 and eventually became the company president in 2019, as per his LinkedIn profile.
According to PEOPLE Magazine, he also collaborated with Bishop at the MEP & Structural Engineering company started by his father, Bob Davenport.
Nate, 45, loved being a father to his two boys and two girls, going on boat rides and having Sunday breakfasts with his parents.
How did Nate Davenport die?
Nate Davenport was at the Harbourside Center on October 22 afternoon when he noticed at least two of his children playing in the splash pad fountain. Soon he heard them crying out due to the presence of supposed electric currents in the water.
In an exclusive interview with WPBF, Nate's mother, Mary Davenport, said, "The kids started screaming, ‘We’re getting shocked, we’re getting shocked.' And so he rushed in to save them."
The loving father reached into the water to retrieve his sons, aged 8 and 11, but both he and other helpful witnesses got electrocuted during the ordeal.
Nate and his two children were affected by the incident, along with three youngsters and two adults.
Before his wife Amy and their children could say goodbye, Nate died at the Jupiter Medical Center without regaining consciousness, as per WPBF.
The children were taken to St Mary's Medical Center, where their increased enzyme levels are being examined.
According to a representative at Harbourside Place, the incident occurred in a fountain that apparently has signs telling people not to swim or climb, according to WPTV.
The fountain is located inside an outdoor amphitheater that hosts music performances, and it is divided from the splash pad by a modest wall.
With support from Florida Power & Light, Harbourside Place, and the town's Building Department, Jupiter police confirmed they were conducting investigations into the electrocution.
Friends and family paid tributes to Nate Davenport
Family members and friends paid their tributes to the "tragic and yet heroic passing" of Nate Davenport.
Mary Davenport said, "He took a hit for his kids. We had 45 years with him. God blessed us with him. He’s an amazing man. He's loyal. He's a good father. He's a great husband. He loves Jesus. And yeah, he gave his life for his kids," about her late son, as per WPBF.
Nate's brother-in-law stated, "And we obviously know that he did exactly what we would expect him to do. And you know what any father would do, hopefully, but him, especially just his character, that's what he was."
"Everything Nate did was to try and make his family better. He was just such a good person. He was like a brother to everybody," said Nate's longtime friend Scott Gorman to the Palm Beach Post.
Another friend, Betsy Merrell Canevari, took to Facebook, to write, "I’m still grappling with the news of Nate Davenport’s tragic and yet heroic passing. I had the privilege of growing up with Nate at church. There is not a youth group memory that Nate’s not apart of!!"
They added, "He was always the life of the party, the biggest prankster and the most fun to be around. He lived life to the fullest and I’m so grateful I was able to call him a friend."
Scott Gorman, yet another of Nate's friends, posted, "The world is a duller place now. I can't possibly say enough good things about my friend Nate Davenport. He was truly one of the best people I've known in my 44 years on this planet."
He continued, "The guy was an infectious personality and brought a smile to may face eveytime I got to see him, which admittedly was not enough over the past few years. This man died saving his family and will always be remembered as a hero for that."
"Amy Davenport, you and the kids will be in my prayers. Please take the time to give your loved ones a hug or call this week and as often as possible in the future," concluded Gorman.