A father-of-one tragically died while trying to save his stepdaughter from drowning.
Reza Zolali was a selfless father-of-one and stepfather from the UK who jumped into a river after seeing his stepdaughter struggle despite not knowing how to swim.
Mr. Zolali and his family were enjoying a hot day by River Erme in Long Timber Woods when 10-year-old Chloe got in trouble while swimming in a deep pool of water.
Despite not knowing how to swim, the girl’s stepfather immediately jumped into the river in a bid to save the child. While helping Chloe to safety, the man got pulled underwater by a strong current.
It wasn’t until 20 minutes later that Zolali was pulled out of the chilly water by passersby who were asked for help by the father’s children.
Unfortunately, the Iranian-born father was underwater for too long and could no longer be resuscitated after being pulled ashore.
“What happened was tragic. Everyone who helped was brilliant. The little boy and girl deserve some praise for being so calm too,” Jackie Winterburn, one of the rescuers, said.
As Detective Con Rachel Walke added, the pool of water in the river where Chloe was swimming is deeper than it appears and has no rocks to step or hold on to.
Following the young man’s unexpected passing, his heartbroken partner, mother-of-three Kaylie McGrath, branded him as a “caring” and “kind” person who always helped other people.
“He was such a kind, caring person. He was helping out at the foodbank, he went to church on Sundays, he was such a kind person he did not deserve to die,” McGrath said.
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