Florida Dad Drowns While Rescuing Tangled Seagull

William 'Stone' Romberg, a 31-year-old hospitality manager, drowned while attempting to save a seagull he had hooked while fishing in Panama City Beach, Florida.

According to his employer and a GoFundMe page, Rom,berg was fishing in Phillips Inlet on Sunday afternoon when his cast accidentally caught the bird.

Romberg was with friends near the Pinnacle Port Condominiums when he swam out to the trapped bird. While trying to free the animal, his hand became caught on the hook and the bird.

He attempted to swim back to shore but was carried out by the current and ultimately drowned, according to the GoFundMe page created by Heidi Fortner.

Romberg, an Atlanta native, is survived by his wife Taylor and their two young daughters, aged 1 and 3. The family had recently celebrated their youngest daughter’s first birthday, two weeks before the incident.

Romberg was remembered as a devoted husband and father, known to many in the local communities. The Carillon Beach HOA expressed grief over his passing, calling him a cherished community member.