Derrick Moore, 47, Died Saving Girl and Uncle From Myrtle Beach Rip Current

Q: Will the grieving family ever meet the strangers whose lives were bought with a beloved educator's ultimate sacrifice?

Possibly, but it has not been confirmed. What is known is that a man identifying himself as the rescued girl’s uncle publicly said Derrick Moore saved both him and his niece, and that he was trying to contact Moore’s family to express grief and gratitude. WRAL reported that it relayed that message to Moore’s family and was still seeking comment from the man. That means a path for contact appears to exist, but several barriers remain. Police have not released the girl’s name, condition or other identifying details, and news outlets have said they are still independently verifying the uncle’s account. Until that identification is confirmed and both sides agree to speak, a meeting cannot be treated as certain. There are also privacy considerations. Because the girl appears to be a minor, authorities are unlikely to disclose her identity publicly. Any meeting would most likely happen privately, through relatives, journalists, clergy, school representatives or victim-assistance channels rather than through police announcements. So the most accurate answer is that the family may yet meet the people Moore saved, and efforts to connect them are already underway, but as of the latest reporting no meeting has been publicly confirmed. What is certain is that Moore’s final act saved at least one life, and possibly two, according to the uncle’s unverified account.

2 articles · Updated · WRAL News · Aug 10

A man claiming to be the girl’s uncle said Sunday that Derrick Moore saved both him and his niece before Moore was found dead Saturday morning in Myrtle Beach.
Police say the 47-year-old Georgia resident entered the water around 8 p.m. Friday to help the girl in a rip current; no lifeguards were on duty.
The uncle posted on social media that Moore “saved me and my niece” and said he was trying to contact Moore’s family.
Moore was a father of four and a teacher, and police have not released the girl’s name.