Pennsylvania man drowns saving boy from rough surf while vacationing in Cancun, Mexico

FARRELL, Pa. – A western Pennsylvania man has drowned while saving a young boy caught in rough surf while the man was vacationing in Cancun, Mexico.

Fifty-year-old Jeff Brown, of Farrell, was vacationing with his girlfriend, Tracy Duez, and several other couples when he died on Wednesday.

Duez’ sister, Wendy Donner, says Brown entered the water to save the boy even though there were red flags on the beach warning of a dangerous undertow.

Witnesses say Brown helped the boy onto a life buoy but was himself caught in the undertow and died.

The J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home is handling arrangements. A worker there says the arrangements were incomplete Monday, while the staff worked to confirm arrangements to fly Brown’s body back to western Pennsylvania.