A father gave everything for his child when the child found himself in danger.
According to Fox 9, police were called around 8:22 p.m. on June 15 after a caller reported a possible drowning at Long Bridge at Dead Shot Bay in Minnesota.
Upon arriving at the scene, authorities learned that a 3-year-old little boy had fallen from the bridge into the water below. The child’s father, 31-year-old Christopher Franklin Nicholas Schultz, quickly jumped in after his son to save him. The father and son had been visiting the popular spot where kids often jump from the bridge into the water for fun.
As Fox 9 reports, Schultz struggled to keep his son above water but was able to do so until a group of bystanders was able to help bring the 3-year-old to shore. Sadly, Schultz never resurfaced.
Schultz was recovered by authorities around 9:07 p.m. that same night. He was taken to a nearby hospital where the father was pronounced dead.
Bill Wickum, a resident of the area who is familiar with the area of the river where the little boy fell, said the section, where the boy was rescued, is “dangerous”:
“It is deep, there is a current, but it’s fairly close to where you can touch. Five strokes to where you can probably hit bottom.”
However, Wickum told Fox 9 that he can relate to Schultz giving his life up for his son:
“You’re a father you’re going to do anything you can to save the kid. […] He made the ultimate sacrifice for his son, and I hope his son grows up to be a worthy recipient of that because you can’t think of any greater sacrifice. So, that’s a sad, sad, story.”
The little boy was also taken to the hospital to be examined. He is expected to make a full recovery.