In a recent interview, Valerie Belt, daughter-in-law of 75-year-old Charles “Chuck” Graves, shared the heartbreaking details of a tragedy that struck during a family vacation on Alabama’s Gulf coast. Chuck’s last heroic act—saving his five-year-old grandson from drowning—ended in his own untimely death due to a heart attack.
“Chuck always put family first,” Valerie expressed, reflecting on the love and dedication he had for his family. “He was definitely one of a kind.”
The dramatic events unfolded on October 9, while the family was enjoying their time at Dauphin Island. According to reports from Alabama’s WALA news station, a strong current unexpectedly swept the young boy into deeper waters. Without hesitation, Chuck dove in to rescue him. He managed to swim out, bring the child to safety, and hand him off to a family member, instructing them to get back to shore. However, when he didn’t follow suit, concern grew among the family.
“That’s when we realized something was wrong,” Valerie recounted. Initially, they feared he might be in trouble himself. First responders subsequently rescued Chuck and rushed him to the hospital. Unfortunately, he arrived in critical condition and his family soon learned that he had suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after saving his grandson.
“Looking back, we think Chuck must have sensed something was wrong even while he was in the water,” Valerie said. “He never attempted to swim back, even when he was safe. That’s when we realized he was likely having the heart attack, which ultimately took him.”
Survived by a son, two daughters, four grandchildren, and his beloved wife Maura, Chuck’s family described a man who cherished every moment with them. Valerie fondly noted how much he loved them all and made it a point to spend quality time together, especially after his retirement from the US Navy, where he served from 1968 to 1972, as well as his career at a power plant.
“All he ever wanted was to have all of his kids gathered together,” she recalled.
Having retired to Florida for warmer weather, Chuck deeply engaged in activities like pickleball and fishing. Tragically, he was just months away from celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary with Maura Teasley Graves.
In honoring his memory, his family plans to hold a celebration of life after his remains are cremated.
