HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The family of a Navy officer who drowned off the west coast of Kauai over the weekend is speaking out about the moments leading up to the tragedy.

On Saturday, Master-at-Arms 1st Class Jeffrey Diaz, 47, was swimming at Barking Sands, near Shenanigans Bar and Restaurant, when his 9-year-old son got pulled out by a strong wave.

His wife says he told his older son to head back to shore, then went and swam out to his younger son.

“From what my son said, he was in the middle of the ocean and his dad was swimming with one arm trying to get him to safety. Then he got on his dad’s back and swam for a little bit and then my son said that Jeff told him, ‘Ok bub, you’re going to have to get off my back. I’m going to drown,’” said his wife, Keyonna Fairley.

“‘I want yo

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