Beloved Louisiana City Worker Drowns Trying To Save His Granddaughter After She Fell Into Lake

Tributes person poured successful for a beloved Louisiana metropolis worker who died aft trying to prevention his granddaughter aft she fell into a lake.

Chris Rushing from Covington, astir 40 miles northbound of New Orleans, jumped into Bayou Lacombe to prevention his grandchild connected July 1, but sewage into trouble earlier disappearing underwater, witnesses told section media.

Another woman, who has not been identified, jumped successful and managed to get nan kid to safety, according to WDSU.

Rushing was pulled retired of nan h2o by occurrence crews and taken to nan hospital, wherever he died a short while later, St. Tammany Sheriff's Office said. His decease was apt an accidental drowning, pending nan results of an autopsy, nan sheriff’s agency said.

The devoted grandad worked for nan Covington’s Department of Cultural Arts & Events and had been progressive successful readying nan city’s July 4 celebrations.

Rushing’s family said he would “not deliberation twice” astir jumping into nan h2o to prevention his grandchild if he were live today.

“Christopher adored his grandbabies, and his emotion for them was endless,” nan family said connected a GoFundMe page, launched to support them pinch ceremonial expenses.

“His bequest arsenic a leader will unrecorded on, arsenic he passed distant redeeming his grandbaby. I cognize if he were present today, he would not deliberation doubly astir nan determination he made,” nan station said.

His family said that Rushing “was loved by everyone who met him” and he “always had a grin connected his face.”

“He was thing short of a bully man, and his kindness touched truthful galore lives,” nan tribute said.

The family added that immoderate further proceeds would spell toward mounting up a nonprofit successful Rushing’s name. “We will do what we request to do to make judge we springiness backmost to nan metropolis we emotion and he loved,” nan family said.

City officials besides paid tribute to Rushing.

“My bosom genuinely hurts,” said councilman Jimmy Inman. “Chris focused connected making our world a amended place. He worked each time to do so. Some group are called heroes, but he genuinely was one, giving his ain life attempting to thief personification other successful dire need.”

Covington Mayor Mark Johnson said Rushing’s decease was “very difficult to process” successful a statement.

“Chris will beryllium remembered for his ever-present smile, nan joyousness that emanated from him and for his innate desire to thief others,” nan politician said.