Fla. Father of 4 Dies After Saving Sons from Electrocution in Fountain: 'He Gave His Life for His Kids'

The U.S. Navy veteran was identified as the adult who died after jumping into an electrified fountain to save his 8-year-old and 11-year-old sons

Nate Davenport, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Iraq War, died saving two of his four children from an electrified fountain at the Harbourside Place shopping center in Jupiter, Florida, reports the Palm Beach Post, WPBF and WESH.

On Sunday afternoon, the Jupiter Police Department and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue responded to a call that a distressed child was in the shopping center fountain. Firefighters reported that people nearby tried to help the child before the possible electrocution in the water.

Eight people were evaluated for injuries. Three people reportedly declined medical treatment. Two adults, including Davenport, were taken to nearby hospitals.

Three children, including Davenport’s 8-year-old and 11-year-old sons, were taken to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, reports the Palm Beach Post.

Related: Pa. Father Fishing with 3-Year-Old Son Drowns After Saving Children Struggling in Creek

Davenport was taken to Jupiter Medical Center, where he never regained consciousness and died. Davenport’s wife, Amy, their children and parents were unable to say goodbye.

His mother Mary Davenport described the scene from Sunday, telling WPBF that her grandchildren were screaming, “We’re getting shocked — we’re getting shocked.”

Mary explained, "So he rushed in to save them."

Davenport headed for the fountain and grabbed his children, but he and other helpful bystanders were shocked during the rescue.

"He took a hit for his kids. We had 45 years with him. God blessed us with him. He's an amazing man," Mary told WPBF. "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."

"And we obviously know that he did exactly what we would expect him to do," Davenport's brother-in-law, Mike Bishop, told WPBF. "And you know what any father would do, hopefully, but him, especially just his character, that's what he was."

Davenport's friends also shared their memories with the Palm Beach Post.

“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," Scott Gorman, a longtime friend, told the Post.

Related: Father of 7 Dies Trying to Save His Children from Being Swept Away by North Carolina Wave

Davenport was the president of RGD Consulting Engineers. He also worked alongside Bishop for the MEP & Structural Engineering firm, which was started by Davenport's father, Bob Davenport.

"We have been getting so many calls and emails," Mary told WBPF. "From clients, from friends, from other contractors, from subcontractors who have just poured their heart out to me to say how much Nate meant to them and how he impacted their life. And so that is the blessing to us.”

The Jupiter Police Department, the Town of Jupiter Building Department, Harbourside Place and Florida Power and Light (FPL) are investigating the incident. The FPL shut off power to the area to assist authorities in the investigation, reports ABC News.

Spokespeople for Harbourside Place, Jupiter Police Department and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for additional information on Wednesday.

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