Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — A 10-year-old girl is remembering the teacher who gave his life to save her after she was caught in a powerful rip current off Myrtle Beach.
Derrick Moore, 47, a father of four and teacher from Loganville, Georgia, died Friday, Aug. 8, after entering the ocean to help Summer McCallum, who had been pulled into dangerous waters near 10th Avenue South.
Moore managed to help Summer reach safety, but the current then pulled him underwater. His body was recovered the following morning after washing ashore, according to police.
For Summer, the rescue has left behind both painful memories and deep gratitude for the man who stepped forward when she needed help most.
Girl Describes Terrifying Moments in the Water
Summer recalled suddenly finding herself in water deep enough that her feet could no longer touch the bottom.
“I was just scared and then my feet couldn’t touch the ground,” she told. “The wave just kept going over my head.”
Her uncle, Ernest McCallum, was on the beach gathering the family’s belongings when he noticed something was wrong.
He initially thought Summer might simply be playing in the water. But when he realized she was being carried farther away from shore, he rushed into the ocean.
“I’m swimming, I’m swimming, now I’m not feeling nothing under my feet,” Ernest recalled. “It was crazy, you know, the waves hitting me.”
Moore Reached the Girl as Others Joined Rescue
Ernest, Moore and several other people entered the water in an attempt to rescue Summer. At one point, Summer saw Moore approaching her.
“I saw him coming, and he was like, ‘Grab, grab my arm,’ and I grabbed it,” she said.
But Moore was also struggling against the powerful current by the time he reached her. Summer was eventually brought back to shore after rescuers used a flotation device, but she initially believed Moore was still somewhere in the water trying to swim.
Police later confirmed that the swimmer who entered the water to help the girl had been pulled underwater.
Family Calls Moore a True Hero
For Ernest, there is no question about what Moore did.
“He saved my life because I didn’t have to go back out there,” Ernest said. “He certainly saved my niece’s life. He’s everything they say he is. He’s a hero.”
Moore’s family is now mourning a man remembered not only as a father and teacher but also as someone who made the ultimate sacrifice for a child he was trying to save.
“We loved him and are truly heartbroken that he’s gone,” Moore’s daughter said in a statement. “He was a great father and we are all going to miss him.”
Mother Says Tragedy Changed How She Sees Every Moment
Summer’s mother, Kamille Raines, said she received a frightening phone call from Ernest after the incident. He was initially quiet when she answered.
“I said ‘hello,’ and he was quiet. And I said, ‘Are you OK?’ He said no. I said, ‘Is my baby OK?’ He said yes.”
Raines said the experience has stayed with her, particularly because she keeps thinking about how differently that phone call could have ended.
The tragedy has also made her more conscious of cherishing every moment with her daughter.
Summer Has One Message for the Man Who Saved Her
Despite everything that happened, Summer’s strongest feeling toward Moore is gratitude. If she could speak to him now, she said she would keep her message simple.
“I would say thank you,” Summer said. “I really owe my life to you.”
Moore’s final act has left a lasting impact on Summer and her family, who say his decision to enter the dangerous water gave a young girl the chance to return safely to shore.
His family is now left grieving the loss of a father, teacher and loved one, while Summer carries forward the memory of the man she believes gave her a second chance at life.
What do you think about Derrick Moore’s heroic decision to save Summer? Share your thoughts and pay tribute to his courage in the comments below.
