Friends and family are mourning the death of a man who heroically dove into the water near Rochester, New York, to save two young boys in distress.
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Jason Sigelow, a 39-year-old father of two, reportedly died after jumping into Irondequoit Bay on Saturday night to help a 10-year-old boy who appeared to be struggling. He brought the boy back to the pier and tragically died afterward, WROC-TV reported.
“One of our officers immediately began giving CPR to the unresponsive male until EMS arrived,” Sgt. Jim Reed of the Irondequoit Police Department told the outlet. “Everyone worked very diligently and frantically to try and revive this man.”
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Others reportedly jumped in the water and successfully saved a second child, though some reports indicate there might have only been one child involved. The details of what led to Sigelow’s death are not yet clear.
Sigelow’s passing has sparked passionate proclamations from his friends and loved ones who described him as a “loving father and friend, and a selfless human.” Those speaking out included Susan Plunkett of Susan Plunkett’s Fabulous Foods, who first met him more than a decade ago when he started working for her.
“I found Jason to be a very, very special person. I found Jason to be as kind as anybody I’ve ever met,” she told WROC. “I found him to be the best father, I think of anyone I’ve ever known, that cared so much about his children and did the best job.”
Sigelow’s cousin, Angela Parkinson, told WHAM-TV that her cousin was a giving and caring man who “knew he wasn’t a good swimmer” but was the type of person would “could not have stood there and watched those kids drown.”
“He died a hero,” she said through tears.
Sigelow is survived by his two sons, Vincent and Mason Sigelow. A GoFundMe has been established to try and raise money for his loved ones. Prayers up to his family during this difficult time.