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\nVeteran Lonnie Hancock, 43, and Valentin Quiroz, 21, both died after they jumped into the water to save the teen<\/p>\n
A South Carolina veteran died on his birthday while trying to save a 13-year-old boy from drowning, authorities said.<\/p>\n
The teen was fishing with his family on Saturday, March 8, when he slipped on rocks and fell into a river in Ridgeway, the Kershaw County Sheriff\u2019s Office said, according to\u00a0CBS affiliate WLTX<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Fox affiliate WACH<\/a>. Lonnie Hancock, 43, and Valentin Quiroz, 21, were among a group who jumped into the water to save the teen. Both died, WLTX, WACH and\u00a0WIS<\/a>\u00a0reported.<\/p>\n Authorities said that after the boy fell into the water, his father and Quiroz immediately jumped in to save him. Hancock, who was nearby, jumped in soon after, according to WLTX. An off-duty police officer and Army soldier also witnessed the accident and were able to pull the boy out of the water, Boan said, per the outlet. By then, Hancock and Quiroz had disappeared.<\/p>\n \u201cThese men didn\u2019t hesitate,\u201d said Boan, according to the outlet. \u201cThey saw someone in trouble and they jumped in. That\u2019s what heroes do.\u201d<\/p>\n Two people heard screams and then realized a boy had fallen into the river.<\/p>\n \u201cAt first we thought it was just kids playing in the water and then we heard a lady scream and then we knew something was going on and it was bad,\u201d Gary Mallot, who witnessed the rescue, told\u00a0WIS<\/a>.<\/p>\n After the teenager was rescued, search efforts continued for Hancock and Quiroz. Both bodies were found separately that weekend, according to WLTX.<\/p>\n The sheriff\u2019s office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.<\/p>\n \u201cThey made the ultimate sacrifice,\u201d said Sheriff Lee Boan, who noted that the water temperature was in the low 50s at the time, according to\u00a0WLTX<\/a>. \u201cTwo heroes jumped into the water without hesitation, trying to save a life. That is the definition of hero.\u201d<\/p>\n Hancock, who served in the Navy for 20 years, was a father of four, the station reported. The day of the accident was his 43rd birthday.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was no thought, no hesitation,\u201d Lance Abernathy, who worked as a high school coach at Chesterfield High, told the outlet about his former athlete. Hancock was an All-Region football player and two-time Top 3 state placer in wrestling, according to the outlet.<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for\u00a0PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a>\u00a0to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n