A joyful Fourth of July celebration turned tragic when Allen Ray McGrew, 41, died after placing a lit firework on his head during a neighborhood party in Summerville, South Carolina. Dressed in a red, white, and blue Uncle Sam outfit, Allen was dancing and entertaining his family before the accident happened.

At around 10:30 p.m., Allen held a firework above his hat. His wife, Paige, thought he was pretending—until it suddenly exploded. Allen collapsed immediately. Emergency crews arrived, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner confirmed he died instantly from head injuries.

Allen, who rarely drank, was in high spirits that night, celebrating his son Hunter’s engagement. “He was a patriot,” Paige said. “He was proud of his son and excited to have a new daughter-in-law.”

Before the accident, Allen hugged his wife and son and said: “You are my rock, and you are my heart.” His family remains traumatized by the sudden loss, just weeks before his 42nd birthday.