Lincer Lopez, 21, was at Boat Dock Park lake in Texas on Saturday, August 24, for his baptism and remained with church members afterward, according to family and friends who spoke to WFAA.
While enjoying the water, one of the teenagers in the group began to drown, prompting Lopez to attempt a rescue. A nearby boater managed to pull the girl from the water and perform CPR to revive her.
Emergency responders from the Waxahachie Police Department arrived around 12:45 p.m., but Lopez was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, as confirmed by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner.
Lopez, the eldest of seven siblings and described as a key figure in a church celebration, was celebrated for his heroism. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help transport his body to his hometown in Chiapas, Mexico.
His uncle, Jacob Lopez, shared with WFAA that Lincer was so excited about his baptism that he couldn’t sleep the night before. “He was a hero,” Jacob said. “He didn’t hesitate to help someone else, not considering the risk to his own life.”
Jacob Bell, the boater who saved the girl, expressed that Lincer’s death was deeply affecting. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Bell told the station. “He had just been baptized and dedicated his life to the Lord. Our family prays for his and the girl’s families. He was a strong young man, and they should be very proud of him.”
