A world champion jet ski racer who was born and raised in Palm Beach County died during a race in Guadeloupe last weekend.Eric Francis was 36 years old and lived in Port Saint Lucie.He and his wife, a fellow jet ski racer, met in Guadeloupe six years ago at a race.“She was representing England and he was representing the United States,” Eric’s father, Ed Francis, said. “They were there for a week. They fell in love. They met in March and were married in November.”Stay informed: Local coverage from WPBF 25 NewsThe couple shares a 1 1/2-year-old daughter and is expecting another daughter in August.“The tragedy is that the young one will never remember him because she’s just too young and the new one will never get to meet him,” Ed Francis said.On Saturday, Eric was competing in a race from one island near Guadeloupe to another, a stretch that was about 16 miles. Ed says that was not out of the ordinary.“The seas were really rough that day and all I can think of is that he hit a big wave, got knocked unconscious and he fell into the water, and he drowned.”Ed said Eric’s wife knew something was wrong when all the other competitors returned to shore except Eric. Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | InstagramShe checked his location and realized he had not moved from one spot in about an hour. After a four-hour search, his body was found near his jet ski.Right now, his family is still working to get his remains to Florida and are hopeful they can see him one final time.Ed said their other priority is making sure Eric’s wife and two daughters are taken care of.A GoFundMe was created to help them. To donate, click here.
A world champion jet ski racer who was born and raised in Palm Beach County died during a race in Guadeloupe last weekend.
Eric Francis was 36 years old and lived in Port Saint Lucie.
He and his wife, a fellow jet ski racer, met in Guadeloupe six years ago at a race.
“She was representing England and he was representing the United States,” Eric’s father, Ed Francis, said. “They were there for a week. They fell in love. They met in March and were married in November.”
Stay informed: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
The couple shares a 1 1/2-year-old daughter and is expecting another daughter in August.
“The tragedy is that the young one will never remember him because she’s just too young and the new one will never get to meet him,” Ed Francis said.
On Saturday, Eric was competing in a race from one island near Guadeloupe to another, a stretch that was about 16 miles. Ed says that was not out of the ordinary.
“The seas were really rough that day and all I can think of is that he hit a big wave, got knocked unconscious and he fell into the water, and he drowned.”
Ed said Eric’s wife knew something was wrong when all the other competitors returned to shore except Eric.
Follow us on social: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
She checked his location and realized he had not moved from one spot in about an hour. After a four-hour search, his body was found near his jet ski.
Right now, his family is still working to get his remains to Florida and are hopeful they can see him one final time.
Ed said their other priority is making sure Eric’s wife and two daughters are taken care of.
A GoFundMe was created to help them. To donate, click here.
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