A Maine father died while saving two of his children from drowning off the Florida coast during a family vacation, according to reports.

Ryan Jennings rescued his son and daughter from a rip current at Juno Beach before losing his own life in the water. The family was vacationing in Florida when the incident occurred.

Jennings' widow, Emily, posted about the tragedy on social media, writing that her husband's final act was "returning my children alive." She described his sacrifice as "his last gift" to her.

The story has drawn attention online as an example of parental sacrifice. Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water that can pull swimmers away from shore and are responsible for numerous drownings along U.S. coastlines each year.

The Jennings family is now grieving the loss of Ryan while processing the trauma of the near-drowning incident that claimed his life while saving his children.