Mother and Daughter Raise Over $60,000 in Wedding Funds for Hero Who Saved Daughter From Drowning
Hoping to repay a California man who saved their ten-year-old after she was taken underwater in a rip current, the 'Whiting' family from Texas created a GoFundMe to help pay for the perfect wedding of their hero.
Shortly after enjoying herself and the last days of her vacation at Monterey, a Californian beach, ten-year-old daughter, Haylee Whiting, was taken underwater in a rip current.
Haylee, playing in the waves was asked by her Mother to come closer to the shore, however, was quickly pulled far into the ocean.
Expressing her thoughts at the time of the incident, “This is not happening. There’s no way I’m being pulled out. I was terrified,” Haylee explained to CNN affiliate ABC7. Recalling the terrifying incident to the news outlet, “I will never forget her face when she said, ‘Mum, help me!'” said Haylee's Mother.
"I swam as hard as I could to her but underestimated the current, I had her on my back but it was slowly taking both of us down. We yelled for help and Kevin Cozzi without hesitation swam out and grabbed her from me."
Haylee's Mother continued on GoFundMe.
Right Place Right Time
Fortunately, 27-year-old Kevin Cozzi, herd the Mother and Daughter yelling for help. “I’ve been swimming since I was three-years-old competitively, so I felt like I could get to them. I ran out there and as soon as I got to the mom, I knew she was struggling,” Cozzi explained to ABC7.
Described by Haylee's Mother as “a complete stranger risking his life to save us,” Samantha later reconnected with Cozzi through social media who made the Whiting family aware that he was about to get married. Wanting to help in any way she could, “My daughter had the idea to raise money for him to help with his wedding, honeymoon, or just anything else they might need,” Samantha said.
The GoFundMe has since raised over £60,000!
Later expressing his gratitude, Cozzi said, “That girl being saved was enough for me.”
There are still amazing people in the world!
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