An Arkansas police officer drowned after entering a river to save his fiancée just hours after proposing to her, according to her mother.Fred Marsh, 24, of the Rogers Police Department, entered Missouri’s Elk River on Saturday to help another swimmer and did not resurface, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.His fiancée’s mother identified that swimmer as her daughter.
Marsh was recovered and pronounced dead Sunday after asking his fiancée, Hailey, to marry him Saturday morning."They had been together for three beautiful years, and they had a very beautiful, loving relationship," Sheryl Padgett told KHBS."Even though legally he was not my son-in-law, he will forever be my son."The pair, who had been together for three years, were out canoeing with another couple on the river near Noel, Missouri, when Hailey entered the water and began struggling against the current while trying to return to the boat.‘HERO' MOM DIES AFTER USING LAST STRENGTH TO SAVE 4-YEAR-OLD SON FROM FLORIDA RIVERFred Marsh entered Elk River on Saturday and was recovered Sunday after asking his fiancée, Hailey, to marry him that morning.
(GoFundMe)Marsh and a fellow Rogers police officer who was with them then jumped into the water to help her, Padgett said.They were able to move her to safety, but Marsh became distressed and exhausted, went underwater and never resurfaced, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol."He saw the love of his life in distress, and he was going to help his friend and do what a good human would do," Padgett said.
"He gave his life helping someone else."Padgett said Marsh was loving, hardworking and guided by his Christian faith, emphasizing that he never hesitated when someone needed help."There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for anyone," Padgett said."You didn’t have to tell him.
You didn’t have to beg him.He just was willing and would jump in there and do whatever it took to help someone."Padgett said she had lost her only son in a fata...