Delaney had a lifelong history of helping others[7] and once paid for the funeral of a former teacher whose family could not afford a proper service.[3] On June 29, 1983, Delaney, who was living in nearby Ruston,[15] went with friends to Critter’s Creek, an amusement center at Chennault Park in Monroe, Louisiana. While reportedly discouraging swimming children from venturing too far out in a pond, Delaney dove in to save three children who were screaming for help, floundering in a water hole left by recent construction work.[3][7][14][15] The water hole, which covered two acres and was six feet deep,[3][16] was not intended for swimming but to add to the park’s aesthetics.[3][17] Despite his inability to swim,[18] Delaney nevertheless tried to rescue the children.[6][19] One child managed to get out of the water without harm and another was taken to an emergency room where he later died; police recovered the body of Delaney and the remaining child.[3][7][17] The amusement park has since been closed to the public.[3][7][15]

This is the saddest shit I’ve read in a while. I’m so glad he saved one of those kids at the very least. What an absolute hero