26-Year-Old Dad Dies After Saving a Drowning Stranger's Life: 'I Will Never Forget the Sacrifice'

Photo: GoFundMe

Jacob Farley, a 26-year-old father from Wichita, Kansas, died on Friday after jumping into a river to rescue a stranger from drowning.

According to theMissouri State Highway Patrol, a woman who was swimming in the Elk River in Noel, Missouri was swept under water near the river’s dam. Farley jumped into the water to “attempt a rescue,” authorities said.

The Noel Fire Department arrived on scene and was able to rescue the woman with a throw rope, but Farley drowned. According to MSHP, he was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:55 p.m. on Friday.

“I felt his hand on my back as I tried to get on my floatie after going under,” she told the outlet. “Just having him be there next to me meant a lot. Without him there, I don’t think I would have been able to hold on as long as I did.”

“I will never forget the sacrifice you made,” Capps wrote onFacebookon Sunday. “May your soul Rest In Peace.”

According to aGoFundMepage set up to help his family with funeral expenses, Farley was the father to a 3-year-old son named Kingston.

“He didn’t think twice about jumping in to save a complete stranger,” the GoFundMe page read. “He is a true hero and died saving someone else’s life with no regard for his own.”

Any remaining funds left after the funeral expenses will be put into a trust fund for Kingston’s education.

“Jacob was selfless and brave and he lived his life the same way he lost it,” the page continued. “Helping others.”

source: people.com