Yuma man drowns while rescuing his girlfriend's nephews in Colorado River, YCSO says

A man was killed while attempting to save his girlfriends' two nephews from drowning in the Colorado River in Yuma on Saturday.

What we know:

The incident happened on July 5 near Hidden Shores Resort just after noon, the sheriff's office said.

"The initial report revealed a group of people were at the Horseshoe Island sandbar when two juveniles were pulled off the shallows by the current. A male subject swam out to the juveniles and kept them above water until a vessel approached and was able to remove the juveniles from the waterway. It was reported the male was struggling to stay afloat, and was observed going underwater and did not resurface," said Tania Pavlak with YCSO.

Several agencies worked to find the victim, including the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, Imperial County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Fish & Wildlife units, and Border Patrol air & marine units.

By 7:20 p.m., the victim was found. He's identified as Jeffrey Brady, 51, of Yuma.

The investigation into what happened is ongoing.

What they're saying:

Loved ones are mourning Brady, remembering him as a selfless guardian who made a profound impact on those around him.

"It's been a shockwave through I think our entire friends and family," said Summer Needham, a close friend of Brady's. "He was a giant, he's a big guy, but he was a big teddy bear. He had the sweetest heart. He was a really, really, really great guy."

Joann Ripley, another close friend, recalled Brady's unwavering care.

"I was in a bad car accident and he called and checked on me every single day just to make sure, because that's genuinely who he was. He was the most selfless and caring person that I ever met," she said.

Craig DeGraff, also a close friend, noted Brady "definitely led by example in many ways and showing so all the way until the end."

Brady was celebrating the holiday with his family, including his twin brother Greg, his partner Elen, and her two nephews, when the celebration turned to tragedy in tumultuous waters.

Jeffrey Brady

"One of the boys got caught up and his big brother jumped in after him to help him and Jeff knew right away that neither of those boys were going to be able to handle it so he jumped in after both boys," Needham said.

Brady's last act was a heroic one.

"He literally saved their lives. He held them up so they could be above water," Needham said.

His loved ones are now left with a giant-sized hole in their lives. Needham is asking for prayers for the family.

Brady had recently moved to Yuma to help care for his father, who requires medical assistance.

What you can do:

If you'd like to donate to the GoFundMe for the victim, click here.

Anyone with information about what happened is asked to call the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office at 928-783-4427. You can also report a tip by clicking here.

Map of where the incident happened

Crime and Public SafetyYumaNews