ZEBULON, N.C.-- A 36-year-old Raleigh man was identified Monday as the man who died while rescuing a little boy from a river in Zebulon Sunday.
The incident was reported around 6:15 p.m. at Little River Park at 1800 W. Gannon Avenue, Zebulon police said in a news release.
Jeremie Dale Earp of Baucom Road in Raleigh was identified as the man who drowned after saving the 8-year-old boy, officials said.
Police said Monday that Earp was at the park with a large group of friends when he saw the boy "having difficulty staying afloat," the news release said.
"The victim was able to get the child close enough to the bank that he was pulled in by another member of the group," officials said. "At this point, the victim himself began to have trouble swimming and went under."
At that point, several people jumped into the water and began a "frantic search," the news release said.
When authorities arrived, they found several people performing CPE on Earp, who had been pulled from the water and was lying on the shoreline of the river.
Officers began to assist with CPR until the arrival of the fire crews and members of EMS.
"CPR was continued for nearly one hour before the victim was pronounced dead," officials said.
While witnesses and friends are grieving, Zebulon Police Chief Tim Hayworth said they're thankful for the man jumping in to save the boy, calling him a hero.
"This man was trying to save the child, and in fact, did save the child. The tragedy could've been far worse. We could've had two drownings, and this man probably was doing what anyone of us would've done if we saw a child in danger," Hayworth said.
Hayworth said the boy, who was not identified, is in good condition after being checked out by EMS.
