‘Beloved’ Middle School Teacher Dies While Snorkeling with Friend off Florida Coast

On Friday, Aug. 14, Kevin Burns, a middle school teacher, was swept away while he was snorkeling with a friend off the Florida coast, officials said.

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Beloved middle school teacher Kevin Burns died while snorkeling off the coast of Jupiter, Fla., on Friday, Aug. 14

He and his friend were pulled away from their paddleboards by a strong current, officials said

The victim taught U.S. history and civics for more than two decades

An adored middle school teacher died after he vanished while snorkeling with a friend off the Florida coast. His body was later found in the water by a helicopter rescue team.

“He touched a lot of lives,” Parker Burns told NBC affiliate WPTV of his son, Kevin Burns, who taught U.S. history and civics at Jupiter Middle School for more than two decades before his death on Aug. 14.

That Friday, around 7:14 p.m. local time, officials were dispatched to the 3000 block of South State Highway A1A, which is off the coast of Jupiter, Fla., following a reported drowning, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBCSO) confirmed to PEOPLE in a statement.

Earlier that evening, Kevin and an unnamed friend traveled on their paddleboards about half a mile offshore and secured their paddleboards on a reef. The two men began snorkeling in the water, only for the current to gain strength and carry them away from the reef.

“After determining they were unable to swim against the current to return, they decided to swim towards shore,” the PBCSO said.

When the friend reached dry land, he realized that Kevin was not there and he couldn’t see him in the water. The man called 911 for help.

After first responders arrived, a helicopter with the sheriff’s office located Kevin in the water north of the paddleboards, which were still tied to the reef.

The victim was transported to a nearby medical center, where he was pronounced dead, officials said. A spokesperson for the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to PEOPLE that the case is still pending.

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For Kevin’s parents, Parker and Diana, the news was unfathomable.

“We just really couldn’t believe that,” his mom told WPTV. As they grapple with their grief, the couple takes comfort in knowing that Kevin was on the water he loved so dearly — and has made a lasting impact on his students.

Parker told the outlet that one of Kevin’s former students wrote them a letter explaining that he inspired her to become a history teacher.

Lisa Hastey, the principal of Jupiter Middle School, also acknowledged Kevin’s influence in a letter to staff and families.

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“Mr. Burns was a beloved member of our Mariner family and taught U.S. History and Civics for more than twenty years,” wrote Hastey, according to the outlet. “He maintained an unwavering commitment to education and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.”

The educator’s parents are organizing a celebration of life and plan on having it on the beach, where he used to go every morning to watch the sunrise.

Hastey did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

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