From Atlanta News First: ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A former Cobb County police officer died trying to save others from drowning off the South Carolina coast.
The family of Anderson “Chase” Childers said he was a devoted husband, inspirational father and role mode who lost his life doing what he loved — helping others.
According to police, 38-year-old Childers and another person dove into the water off Pawleys Island to help several swimmers caught in a rip current on Sunday afternoon.
Childers was the only one who did not make it back to shore. His body was recovered about 90 minutes later.
An ex-Baltimore Orioles minor league player in 2009, Childers also later served as a uniformed patrol officer with the Cobb County Police Department for over three years. Originally from Kennesaw, Georgia, he was a Paulding County resident.
He leaves behind his wife Nataley and three children, ages 6, 9 and 10.
A GoFundMe page set up for Childers’ family has raised over $117,000 as of this report. A statement on the page reads:
Chase Childers was a remarkably talented man of many things. He was a former professional baseball player with the Baltimore Orioles, a police officer in Cobb County who received a lifetime achievement award for saving several lives, a skilled fisherman, and a builder capable of constructing anything he envisioned. Most importantly, he was a loving son, a dedicated brother, a treasured friend, an exceptional father to his three wonderful children, and the husband of his beautiful wife, Nataley, who had been his soulmate and best friend since they were teenagers.
As a devoted husband and father, he displayed extraordinary courage and selflessness. In a heroic act, he saved a family of five in a moment of crisis in Pawleys Island on Sunday afternoon, putting their lives above his own.
Tragically, after giving everything he had to save them, he was unable to stay above water as the rip tide swept him away, ultimately paying the highest sacrifice with his life in front of his three children and wife. His bravery, kindness, and love will always be remembered.
GoFundMe: Blessings for Nataley and children in memory of Chase. Chase is a former Cobb County Police Officer. https://t.co/HdSWaGpLQm
— Blue Lives Matter (@RetiredNYCPD) July 17, 2025
We would like to provide additional information on Sunday’s incident. The victim, Chase Childers, and another person entered the water to help 4-5 individuals who were in distress. Sadly, Mr. Childers was caught in the rip current, as well. He died trying to save others.
— Pawleys Island PD (@PawleysIslandPD) July 15, 2025
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