Nearly five years after surviving a drowning in Captiva Island, Tia Gambrel-Irizarry has passed away, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, love, and advocacy.
In 2019, Tia was pulled from a rip current at Turner Beach on Captiva Island.
She was pronounced dead for about 18 minutes before emergency responders miraculously revived her. Her husband, Daniel “Cujo” Irizarry, still marvels at her survival, saying, “It’s no way, on God’s green earth, somebody’s gone for 20, 25 minutes without air... but she came back.”
Since her recovery, Tia dedicated her life to educating others about the dangers of rip currents.
“If they tell you there’s a rip current, don’t go in the water. Even the strongest swimmers will not make it out," she urged to NBC2 viewers in July after other drownings.
Her commitment to drowning prevention became her mission.
“If there’s anything I can do to educate anybody,” she said, “it would be to tell you to learn all those types of currents and don’t go in the water.”
Over the years, Tia faced health complications from her ordeal. Yet, she lived each day with purpose, aiming to make the most of her second chance.
Her husband found a letter among her belongings, filled with words of faith and love: “I dream of our love… Thank you, God, for creating the man I love.”
“Tia’s heart was her biggest strength,” he said, reflecting on their life together.
“My heart hurts because we gave each other so much," he said.
Friends remember Tia as an indomitable spirit.
“Physically, even though she’s no longer with us, every memory, every goal, every accomplishment that she achieved – if we continue to thrive on those things, then she’s still here,” said Amy Pacheco, one of her close friends.
Though her battle ended two weeks ago, Tia Gambrel-Irizarry’s message remains: know the risks, protect yourself, and cherish each day. Her family hopes her story continues to save lives and inspire others to live fully, as she did.
Her family started a GoFundMe page for Tia's services.
Tia's family will host a Celebration of Life for Tia on Thursday, Nov. 7, at the New Life Assembly in Lehigh Acres on Leonard Boulevard at 3:30 p.m.
The public is welcome to come to honor Tia's life.
"We would like to pack the house with everyone that you impacted. Because I feel like that that is important to just every walk of life, no matter where they came from," Pacheco said.
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