US 'Didn't think twice': California man dies while rescuing 2 boys from Colorado River - “He didn’t think twice. He saw someone in need, and he acted, just like he always did.”

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/colorado-river-drowning-california-man-20763240.php
https://archive.ph/Q8May

A man from San Diego drowned in the Colorado River near Yuma, Arizona, on Saturday after jumping in the water to save two boys who were caught in the river’s current.
Jeff Brady, 51, dove into the river near Hidden Shores Resort on Saturday afternoon after two children were swept by the current into deeper water, the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post Sunday. The boys, 10 and 12, are nephews of Brady’s girlfriend, wrote Greg Brady, the twin brother of Jeff Brady, in an Instagram post Monday. Greg was also at the river that day and jumped into the water 30 to 40 seconds after his brother, “WHICH FELT LIKE AN ETERNITY,” he wrote.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DLwY8HPOOaG/

Jeff was underwater, holding the boys up and fighting the current, when Greg reached him. Greg pulled the boys away from his brother, then pulled Jeff up to the surface before yelling, “DONT YOU F—KING DROWN. FIGHT AND SWIM,” he wrote. At this point, the Brady brothers and Greg’s partner were in deep water with the boys. A pontoon boat then approached, and the boys were able to get on board. When Greg turned around, Jeff was below the surface. A report from the sheriff’s office stated that Jeff Brady did not resurface after going underwater.
A search effort was launched by several different law enforcement agencies, the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office wrote. Jeff Brady was located at 7:20 p.m. and pronounced dead at the scene.

Brady was from the San Diego suburb of El Cajon but moved to Yuma, Arizona, a few months ago, NBC San Diego reported. He and his girlfriend made the move with plans to take care of his 84-year-old father. The twins referred to the spot on the river where Brady drowned as their “Lil’ Slice of Paradise,” Greg wrote on Instagram the day of the tragedy.

“There are no words to describe the pain of losing someone who has been a part of me since the beginning,” Greg wrote. “We shared everything…. laughter, struggles, dreams, and memories I’ll hold onto forever. My heart is broken, but I am also incredibly proud of the man he was and the hero he’ll always be remembered as.”

Jeff Brady’s story was met with an outpouring of community support, including over $90,000 in donations to a GoFundMe created for his family. He is being lauded by family and friends as a hero.

“That’s who he was…. selfless, fearless, and always putting others before himself,” Greg wrote on Instagram. “He didn’t think twice. He saw someone in need, and he acted, just like he always did.”

 

[Margo Martindale]

o7
Rest in peace bro, you died an honorable death as a hero

 

[Foltest]

A true hero.
Without a second thought he jumped in.

 

[Old King Koaleamos]

If only we had more Californians like this

 

[deleuzeon]

Dying in the water introduced maybe 10% of doubt, but otherwise, this was an easy race guess.

 

[WonderWino]

Hopefully the gofundme skyrockets and provides a decent life for his family. He deserves that much after what he did

 

[Drifting Panzer]

First, the guy is a bona fide hero and nothing I say later will change that. I only wish that when I see a moment like this, I have a fraction of his courage to do the right thing.

That being said, is every death going to be followed by a gofundme? Is it a chance for the family to grift, or is dying much like healthcare and education, just too expensive for the average american?

 

[Dan Abrams]

Sorry but if you're not my actual kids im not saving you.

 

[Blewberry Nausea]

First, the guy is a bona fide hero and nothing I say later will change that. I only wish that when I see a moment like this, I have a fraction of his courage to do the right thing.

That being said, is every death going to be followed by a gofundme? Is it a chance for the family to grift, or is dying much like healthcare and education, just too expensive for the average american?

It’s kinda both? Yes money is tight all around and expenses are sorta outta hand, but it is also becoming a part of the cultural norm to just start a fundraiser when something happens, unless you are obviously super rich and no one will react well to it.

Honestly it’s been that way since kickstarter showed you could get funding for any half assed idea and people just ran off with the money.

 

[Irene and 22 others]

It’s kinda both? Yes money is tight all around and expenses are sorta outta hand, but it is also becoming a part of the cultural norm to just start a fundraiser when something happens, unless you are obviously super rich and no one will react well to it.

I grew up in a smallish town and it was common to have local benefit events when someone in the community had serious medical problems or fell on hard times. People often helped out in other ways beyond just donating money, but free-will donations at a church supper were common. I consider personal charity vastly superior to any government program that tries to replace it.

 

[Blewberry Nausea]

I grew up in a smallish town and it was common to have local benefit events when someone in the community had serious medical problems or fell on hard times. People often helped out in other ways beyond just donating money, but free-will donations at a church supper were common. I consider personal charity vastly superior to any government program that tries to replace it.

Yeah but the economy is kinda shit and disposable income has taken a nose dive so it feels like there’s always someone needing a handout on my friend’s list all the time. I don’t remember it being like this as a kid.

 

[Super Guido]

Yeah but the economy is kinda shit and disposable income has taken a nose dive so it feels like there’s always someone needing a handout on my friend’s list all the time. I don’t remember it being like this as a kid.

I think the biggest issue is all the paperwork involved, more than anything else.

ETA: I was wrong. Larry David's Opera Cape has the right idea.

 

[Rekeita's Kidneys]

True selflessness is so goddamned rare.

Rest in Power King

 

[Larry David's Opera Cape]

First, the guy is a bona fide hero and nothing I say later will change that. I only wish that when I see a moment like this, I have a fraction of his courage to do the right thing.

That being said, is every death going to be followed by a gofundme? Is it a chance for the family to grift, or is dying much like healthcare and education, just too expensive for the average american?

It's not just the funeral, it's that most jobs don't provide the kind of death and disability benefits they used to, so people are buying them- if they are getting them at all- on the open market, and they are paying more to get less (just like with health insurance). If this guy was the breadwinner for his family they may have immediate problems staying in their home even if there is another adult who goes out job hunting right away.

 

[Your-Fairy-Wish-Prince]

Wow normal cis man saves the day again.

 

[Daddy's Little Kitten]

California lost a great man.

 

[Grundlejungle]

It's not just the funeral, it's that most jobs don't provide the kind of death and disability benefits they used to, so people are buying them- if they are getting them at all- on the open market, and they are paying more to get less (just like with health insurance). If this guy was the breadwinner for his family they may have immediate problems staying in their home even if there is another adult who goes out job hunting right away.

The entire life insurance industry is an absolute goddamn nightmare. It is filled with some of the scummiest lowlives you could ever imagine, only beaten out by the funeral and health insurance industries. The entire industry is built around bilking as much money from people as possible, and fighting tooth and nail to not pay them when they're supposed to.

 

[Larry David's Opera Cape]

The entire life insurance industry is an absolute goddamn nightmare. It is filled with some of the scummiest lowlives you could ever imagine, only beaten out by the funeral and health insurance industries. The entire industry is built around bilking as much money from people as possible, and fighting tooth and nail to not pay them when they're supposed to.

I believe it. I knew this guy who worked in normal sales, selling useful goods wholesale. Company closed down and he was desperate for work. He took a job with a life insurance company thinking it would tide him over at least.

Six months later we're intervening because he's right on the verge of killing himself. And a lot of the reason is "I have to be an evil person to feed my family."

 

[IAmNotAlpharius]

A Californian finally did something useful in Colorado.

 

[frozen_runner]

Jesus, that story is straight up "third act of the movie" dramatic.

I'm getting choked up. Without irony, I hope I am that brave if anything like that ever happens near me. What a fucking hero