"There isn't one person who doesn't have a Pete Rosengren story. He made you feel special," Pete's friend, Joe Shaker said.
An Illinois family’s vacation turned into a nightmare when their father lost his life while rescuing his sons and other kids from a rip current. According to The Daily Herald, 42-year-old Pete Rosengren died following the accident in the Gulf of Mexico. Pete, who was also the vice president of sales and digital strategies for the Daily Herald Media Group, was vacationing in Florida with his wife Maura Rosengren, and their sons Gavin, Charlie, and Grant accompanied by 3 other families.
His grieving wife Maura told the outlet that their family had driven from their Batavia home to Florida’s island resort community at Miramar Beach to enjoy a vacation. The beach was open but the ocean was marked with a double red flag warning which meant that venturing out in the water was dangerous. The family had been on the beach for only a couple of minutes when the kids straight up ran into the water and in a dangerous turn of events, Pete and Maura’s sons, along with other kids, found themselves trapped in a rip current.
"It all happened so fast. I ran toward the water," Maura explained further. According to the outlet, the Rosengren boys were able to make it safely back to the shore but Pete had noticed a friend’s 9-year-old son struggling in the water and Pete lunged in to rescue him. Pete was able to save the kid but was unable to save himself. He was later brought to the shore as the first responders performed CPR on him and later took him to a hospital. Herald noted that Pete could have passed away from drowning or a possible cardiac arrest as his actual cause of death remains unclear.
Widow of @cityofbatavia "model of excellence" Pete Rosengren accepts @carnegie_hero medal from @KaneGovernment recognizing his bravery saving a child https://t.co/0qH4s1A2qq
— Daily Herald (@dailyherald) July 12, 2022
As per Rosengren’s LinkedIn profile, he was working in the media for almost 20 years and he has left many of his coworkers and friends heartbroken. Joe Shaker, president of Shaker Recruitment Marketing and also a friend of Pete’s who did business with him, revealed to the outlet, “That was Pete. Such a hero. He gave you everything he could. There isn't one person who doesn't have a Pete Rosengren story. He made you feel special."
Shaker also spoke to WMAQ and added, “He's one in a million. He is the perfect definition of a best friend you could ask for. He always put others ahead of himself all the way to the end." Scott Stone, president, and chief operating officer of Daily Herald Media Group released a statement and said, “Pete was always there for others. That was his DNA. Pete had an oversized personality, quick wit, humor, and unique compassion for others. It's no surprise his final minute was spent helping others.”
The Rosengren family has been trying to adjust to their new reality without Pete and Maura revealed that “she felt this sense of gratitude that Pete worked from home last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The family has also set up a GoFundMe to help themselves with necessary expenses and managed to raise $173,630 so far.
References:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterosengren/
https://www.gofundme.com/f/memorial-fund-for-the-rosengren-family
Cover Image Source: GoFundMe
