Kevin Foster, 55, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, died on July 31 after rushing into a dangerous rip current at Long Point beach off Martha's Vineyard to save his two teenage sons and two other swimmers who were caught in the water.
Foster was pulled into the powerful current himself as he tried to rescue the four swimmers. First responders were alerted at 3:47 p.m., and lifeguards, firefighters and other Good Samaritans pulled the swimmers, including Foster's sons, back to shore.
Foster was also pulled from the water but was unconscious and not breathing. West Tisbury Police Chief Bradley Cortez told MV Times that every available lifesaving measure was taken to try to save him. He was taken by ambulance to Martha's Vineyard hospital at 4:23 p.m., where he later died.
Foster leaves behind his two sons, Kaden and Kenneth, and his wife, Nadia. Nadia described the loss as unimaginable on a memorial website set up for the family, saying their grief is immense as she, her sons, and Kevin's mother, Racelle Devoe, mourn along with their family and closest community. She asked for privacy and time.
Nadia said the family is deeply grateful to the lifeguards, firefighters, EMS personnel, law enforcement and members of the public who entered the water to help those in distress, adding that their courage, compassion and professionalism will never be forgotten.
Dangerous conditions at the beach
Long Point beach does not have lifeguards and was experiencing strong currents that day, according to the Vineyard Gazette. Witness Kelly McNeil told the outlet she stopped going in past 10 feet midway through the day because the water was getting more and more violent.
A GoFundMe page set up to support the grieving family had raised more than $250,000 as of Monday.
Tributes from a lifelong friend
Cambridge state Representative Marjorie Decker, who grew up with Nadia and is close to the family, called Foster's death devastating in a tribute posted on Facebook. She wrote that Nadia has been her sister in every way but blood since they were five years old, growing up together on Fairmont Street, and that Kevin became family from the moment he entered their lives, like a brother to her and an uncle to her children.
Decker said Foster was an advocate for affordable housing and served on Cambridge's Community Preservation Act committee.
Decker added that to know the Fosters is to know what community truly means, saying they had spent their lives opening their home and hearts to others and that the love surrounding them now reflects the countless lives they touched.
