A young girl was left orphaned after losing both of her parents in the span of just a few months.
33-year-old Robert Safford was a former Marine and a proud father of a young girl named Isabella.
The man was found dead on March 22 when his body was discovered off the coast of Great Harbour in the British Virgin Islands following a boating accident.
“The one male occupant was found unresponsive in the waters with injuries to the head while the dinghy he was in was met circling in the area,” Royal Virgin Island police confirmed.
“Following attempts to resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead.”
The tragic news comes just months after Robert’s wife, Rachele, succumbed to cancer at the age of just 33.
After her mother and father’s premature death, little Isabella was left without parents and forced to move in with her grandparents who currently remain in the custody of the child.
“Rob was a single father but not by choice,” Rob’s friend, Joey Butrico, revealed.
“Rachele, Rob’s wife, and Bella’s mother, lost her battle with cancer in 2022.”
The veteran, who now runs a podcast dealing with mental health, also launched a GoFundMe page to help support Isabella and her grandparents.
“We are looking to get as much support as possible to help Bella’s grandparents and family,” Butrico wrote.
“Raising a child is not easy; hopefully, we can lessen the financial burden through this difficult time.”
Paying a tribute to the young man was also another colleague from the Marines who branded Robert as a devoted Marine.
“You always gave it your all, you loved being a Marine more than anything, and you deserved more and you went for more,” he said.
“I’m sorry that your life was cut short by a tragic accident. However, I know that you lived more in your 33 years than most of us will in a lifetime.”
Our thoughts are with Isabella and the family during this challenging time.
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