ATLANTA — The family of a man who died rescuing a mother and son from drowning in the Chattahoochee River says they’re not surprised he sacrificed himself.
His sister spoke with Channel 2’s Tom Jones on Friday about Frank Young’s life and legacy.
Young’s sister, Andrea, said her brother had a heart for helping people.
“He saw people struggling, and he went to help. It never probably crossed his mind that he would die, or he couldn’t swim,” Andrea Young said.
She said her brother’s big heart ended up costing him his life.
“I’m telling you, if I could, I would bring him back to life just to kill him for doing something so reckless,” Andrea Young said.
It was July 2 at Garrard Landing Park in Roswell when a mother noticed her 4-year-old child struggling to stay afloat in the Chattahoochee River.
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She jumped in to try and save the girl. The mother couldn’t swim and began struggling.
That’s when Frank Young jumped in and tried to rescue the mother and child.
There was one problem though -- he couldn’t swim either.
“I don’t think he thought for one second, ‘What about me,’” Andrea Young said.
Frank managed to save the mother and child, but he began struggling in the rough waters and went under.
Emergency crews found his body about an hour later.
“It was in a sense, a senseless death, but it wasn’t for nothing. Two people are alive because he was stupid enough to try to help them,” Andrea Young said.
She calls her brother a hero but did not have kind words for the mother he rescued.
“I don’t want to speak to her,” Andrea Young said. “You know you cost my brother his life. I’m glad that you’re alive. I’m glad your child is alive. But my brother is not.”
Frank Young leaves behind a wife and a son. Funeral plans are still being worked out.
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