JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville teenager is now a hero after rescuing a man from drowning at Jacksonville beach this week.

It was a terrifying moment turned into a miraculous save — and it’s all thanks to a quick-thinking family.

What started as a typical Tuesday evening at Jacksonville beach for Kay Williams and his three sons, Brandon, Zayden and Kyson, quickly turned into a life-or-death rescue. 

“I said ‘dad, dad someone is drowning someone is drowning,’” said 14-year-old Zayden Williams

“When he said somebody was drowning, I started thinking of my sons immediately,” said Kay Williams.

Once he looked out into the water, he realized his 17-year old son, Brandon, was saving the drowning man. 

Brandon Williams said he can’t swim but didn’t hesitate to spring into action and save a man from drowning. 

“I see this dude and he was drowning and I go in to save him and when I got there I realized how deep it was,” Brandon said. “I picked him up and heard him whispering ‘help,’ so I guess he was in there for a while.”

“He can’t swim, but he’s doing his thing to go and help somebody,” Kay Williams said.

“The tides were extremely strong and he passed out while I was carrying him so I had to carry his weight and the tides. So it was kind of getting heavy and I almost slipped. Then I saw my dad rushing over to me and we helped get him to shore,” Brandon Williams said. 

“I ran up, boom, snatched him out of my son’s hands. My son grabbed his feet and they were pulling him through the tides. We got him here and drug him out. I put him on my foot,” Kay Williams said. “We’re tapping him, we’re tapping him, we’re tapping him. Then he comes back conscious for a little bit.”

Someone on the beach called 911, and moments later paramedics arrived and started performing life saving measures.

The Williams family never left the man’s side.

The next day, Kay Williams was able to get in contact with the family of the man who was saved.

According to his family, his name is Jeremiah and he’s expected to be okay.

They’re just grateful for the Williams family’s heroic actions, especially 17-year-old Brandon.

“My brother’s a legend, he’s really strong,” Zayden Williams said.

“He’s just bred for success. He’s bred to do the right things when opportunity calls. so this aint no mistake that he did his thing when the time came,” Kay Williams said. 

“I didn’t really think much of it, I just ran in there. it just felt natural to go help save him,” said Brandon Williams. 

The Williams tell me that they’re hoping to soon reunite with Jeremiah in the same spot where they helped save his life.