A 42-year-old man died Monday after swimming toward his 10-year-old son who was caught in a rip current near the northern end of Cocoa Beach. The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. during a family outing on a sunny afternoon. Lifeguards reached the boy safely but were unable to pull the father to safety before he went under. "He tried to swim back to his son and just didn’t make it," said Patrick Smith, a Cocoa Beach lifeguard who responded to the call. "That’s the worst part of this job — seeing someone fight so hard and still lose." The boy was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and released later that evening. The father’s body was recovered about 45 minutes after the initial call. Cocoa Beach is no stranger to rip currents; the U.S. Coast Guard reported 14 rescues in the area last month alone. "This is why we stress staying close to shore and never swimming alone," said Melissa Carter, a senior lifeguard at the Cocoa Beach Patrol. "Even strong swimmers can get into trouble." The incident has prompted renewed calls for beach safety education. Local officials said they will review protocols for high-traffic days. The father’s family has not commented publicly. His name has not been released by authorities, but neighbors described him as a regular at the beach. "He was always smiling, always helping kids with their towels," said one visitor. "Now we’re just trying to make sense of it all."