A family is devastated over the sudden loss of their father, who is being hailed as a hero. The loving father collapsed and died moments after rescuing his son and
two other teenagers from a riptide in Long Beach, New Jersey.
James Clarke, 55, was reading a book with his wife Jane outside their
beachfront vacation home when he was told the three boys were in trouble
about 100 yards from shore.
Clarke, who is the owner of the Bedrooms Unlimited furniture store on
Route 22 in Union, ran into the ocean and helped get the three boys.
His son, Peter Clarke, 15, said that one of his friends had water in his lungs.
Once he got the boys to safety, James Clarke collapsed and fell unconscious. His 15-year-old son Peter began CPR.
Paramedics then tried to save Clarke’s life, but they were unsuccessful. It is suspected that he died of a heart attack.