Kyra Hall
The heartbreaking final words of a dad who died in a tragic firework accident have been revealed.
A day of celebrations became a nightmare for one family this Fourth of July, as a joke ended in fatality.
Allen Ray McGrew, 41, was surrounded by family and enjoying the festivities when he tragically lost his life.
The accident occurred at a neighborhood block party in the town of Summerville, Dorchester County, South Carolina.
Footage of the incident shows the 41-year-old appearing happy and carefree. He wore a red, white, and blue Uncle Sam suit, with a top hat and beard.
He could be seen dancing around, smoking a cigarette, kicking his legs around, and entertaining his family.
In the background, a person appeared to say: “He’s dancing to his own tune,” while another added that the ‘big show’ will start soon.
McGrew continued to perform for his family throughout the evening and at around 10:30 p.m., he began joking around with a firework.
His wife, Paige McGrew, tells The Post and Courier: “He was holding this firework over his top hat, I thought he was just showboating before he set it on the ground.
“I didn’t realize he had already lit it.”
McGrew’s wife told him to stop when the firework suddenly erupted, leading him to collapse.
Deputies with the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office and emergency crews responded and found McGrew in the roadway suffering from major head injuries, reports WCBD.
The 41-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
Coroner Paul Brouthers says McGrew would have died instantly from his injuries, with a neighbor adding: “He didn’t suffer; it was quick.”
McGrew’s wife says her husband didn’t usually drink, however, he wanted to celebrate his son, Hunter, getting engaged, telling The Post: “Everyone was drinking a little last night, but he didn’t drink regularly.
“He was a patriot, he was proud of his son and he was excited to have a new daughter-in-law.”
McGrew’s son tells the New York Post: “We’re traumatized.”
Perhaps most heartbreaking of all is the final words McGrew shared with his wife and son before his tragic passing.
He reportedly embraced the two of them and said: “You are my rock, and you are my heart,” his wife explained to the New York Post: “Me being his rock and his son being his heart.”
McGrew’s death came less than a month before his 42nd birthday.
This Fourth of July alone there were four firework-related deaths during the celebration, according to USA Today.
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