Missouri man drowns in Smithville Lake after rescuing two people
He managed to rescue the two people who had fallen overboard, but the current pulled him away from the boat.
A Missouri man drowned when he jumped into the water to save his girlfriend’s five-year-old son, local reports say.
David Moore, 66, of St. Joseph, Missouri, died Aug. 17 after jumping into the water when the boy, who was wearing a life jacket, drifted away from the boat. Another person, who was not wearing a life jacket, also fell into the water, KQ2 ABC and KCTV 5 reported.
Moore also wasn’t wearing a vest when he jumped in.
The two people fell from a pontoon boat on Smithville Lake, about 30 miles north of Kansas City.
Moore was able to rescue the two and bring them back to the boat, but was pulled away from the boat by the current and drowned. The other two people survived.
His head submerged under water three times before disappearing. The Missouri State Highway Patrol later found Moore’s body, KCTV 5 reports.
David Moore has spent his life helping others
“David lost his life helping others and he would not have wanted it to end any other way,” said a GoFundMe campaign set up to raise money for funeral expenses.
The GoFundMe campaign raised around $100 but was later deactivated by organizer Jeff Penland.
“He would be the first to help anyone,” Moore’s childhood friend William “Bill” Penland told KCTV.
Police and Moore’s family are urging people to wear their life jackets while on the water.
