Brandon D. Walcott
A teenage girl was playing in the surf of the Atlantic Ocean off Ocean City, New Jersey, on July 19, 2024, when she, her brother, and her mother were caught in a rip current and were pulled into deeper water. From the beach, 38-year-old attorney Brandon D. Walcott, from Marmora, New Jersey, noticed the family being pulled away from the shore. Familiar with the water conditions, Walcott rushed to the water’s edge and signaled to the family to determine whether they needed assistance. There, he encountered a young boy in the same party as the family, who was struggling to remain standing in wadable surf. Walcott carried the boy to safety on the beach and returned to the water. Walcott swam about 80 feet toward the family, who had continued to be pulled away from the shore. Once near enough, he instructed the mother and the brother to tread water while he swam to the girl, who had submerged. Walcott dived underwater and searched for her until his hand brushed her arm. He pulled her to the surface and, seeing she was struggling to breathe, struck her back until she expelled water from her mouth. The girl panicked and flailed, but Walcott grasped her shirt and held her at arm’s length before pulling her out of the rip current as the mother and brother followed. The group eventually made it to shallow water where bystanders, including Walcott’s wife, helped the girl onto the beach. The mother and brother made their way to shore on their own. The girl and her family had refused medical treatment from responding emergency personnel. Walcott was fatigued by the rescue but otherwise unharmed.
Evan R. Scheck
Two boys were riding their bicycles on May 9, 2024, in Spencer, Iowa, near a flooded bank of the Little Sioux River when floodwater swept the boys downriver. Separated from their bicycles, one boy ended up in wadable water amid a thicket of trees and bushes. The other, 12, reached the concrete base of a utility pole on the flooded bank and climbed atop it just above the water’s surface. Evan R. Scheck, a 28- year-old teacher from Spencer, was coaching a school tennis team when a couple alerted him that the boys were struggling to exit the river. Scheck, another coach, and members of the tennis team ran to the flooded bank, where he removed his shoes and socks and entered the water. With the other coach helping him locate the boys in the brush, Scheck waded through waist-deep water to the first boy and helped him to safety. He then turned his attention to the 12-year-old, who remained stranded at the utility pole farther out in the floodwater. Scheck waded about 60 feet through submerged brush and then swam another 60 feet through swift, cold water that was too deep to stand in. After reaching the pole, he found a spot where he could stand in chin-deep water, where he convinced the boy to climb on his back. Scheck attempted to swim back to shallower water, but he submerged and realized he could not touch the bottom. He returned the boy to the pole, where the boy climbed onto the base again. Within minutes, police arrived with a rescue disc with a rope. An officer waded into chest-deep water and threw the disc to Scheck, who then coaxed the boy back into the water. Holding the boy with one arm, and the rescue disc and rope with the other, Scheck kicked toward safety while the officer pulled them through the water. They eventually reached wadable water and all three exited the floodwaters to safety. The boy was uninjured. Scheck suffered minor abrasions to his feet and lower legs but was otherwise unharmed.
Erik Opal
Chad J. Opal, 42, was outside his Council Bluffs, Iowa, home with two of his children on Dec. 23, 2025, when he smelled smoke coming from a neighboring vacant house that he also owned. Investigating, Opal unlocked and opened the home’s front door and found a man sitting on a couch in the living room. After a brief exchange, Opal turned to call 911, when the man lunged at him and hit him with the butt end of a 5-inch hunting knife, knocking out several teeth. The assailant then repeatedly stabbed Opal in the face, head, and side. Opal fought back, throwing him from the porch. As the struggle moved outside, the assailant stabbed Opal again. Opal shouted that he had been stabbed and his 16-year-old son, Erik Opal, heard him from his bedroom in his family’s home. Erik called 911 as he ran outside, where he saw his father and the assailant struggling near the street. Believing the man was armed, Erik ran to them and tackled the assailant, which allowed Opal to break free. The assailant then struggled with Erik. Rejoining the struggle, Opal laid across the assailant’s legs to hold him down until police responded and took him into custody. Police later found the knife used to stab Opal on the other side of a fence next to the vacant house, at least 50 feet away from where Erik intervened. Police believe the assailant discarded the knife after the initial attack but before following Opal toward the street, the altercation continued until Erik intervened, still believing the assailant was armed. Opal suffered multiple stab wounds. He was hospitalized and underwent dental surgery. Erik sustained a cut to his arm but did not require treatment. He recovered.
Michael D. Shoemaker Jr.
A Nov. 18, 2023, fire broke out in the bedroom in a 63-year-old man’s first-floor Vancouver, Washington, apartment, trapping him inside as the unit filled with thick, black smoke. Michael D. Shoemaker Jr., a 41-year-old maintenance worker who lived directly above the burning apartment, heard an explosion and ran outside. After learning the 63-year-old had not yet exited his home, Shoemaker, who suffered from asthma, entered the smoke-filled apartment without a shirt. Guided by sounds emanating from the man, Shoemaker felt his way through the apartment to the bedroom and attached bathroom. Going to his hands and knees, Shoemaker found the man on the floor. Unable to get the man to his feet, Shoemaker saw the orange glow of flames in the bedroom and ran outside for a fire extinguisher. Returning to the bedroom, he emptied the extinguisher on the nearby flames to little effect. Shoemaker then called out to his son, who crawled through the smoke to bring him a second extinguisher, which also had little to no effect. Directing his son to leave, the son exited the apartment. Shoemaker briefly exited the apartment a second time to catch his breath. He returned to the man, grasped him under his knees, and dragged him to the front door, where Shoemaker’s son and a neighbor helped pull the man outside. The man suffered severe smoke-inhalation injuries and burns to his head, shoulders, and arms. He was hospitalized for several months and, at the time of the Hero Fund’s investigation in 2026, was still recovering. Shoemaker suffered mild inhalation injuries, causing coughing and shortness of breath, as well as first-degree burns to his chest, back, and arms. He recovered.
Matthew Robert Clark
Semiconscious and injured, 75-year-old Stephen Parson remained hanging in the harness of a hang glider that, on Feb. 6, 2026, had crashed into the side of the 2,585-foot Mount Prevost in Duncan, British Columbia. Parson came to rest about 200 feet from the top of the mountain into a tree just above a vertical, narrow gully. In addition to his injuries, his harness straps dug into his legs and began to cut off circulation, creating a life-threatening situation of hanging harness syndrome. Matthew Robert Clark, a 24-year-old electrician from Victoria, British Columbia, was among several paragliders who had landed in a field at the bottom of the mountain. After hearing over the radio that Parson had crashed, Clark joined two other paragliders and a police officer, who drove and hiked up the mountain. Clark, the officer, and one of the paragliders climbed a steep 40-foot slope to the base of a vertical “chimney” rock formation. Without climbing gear, Clark scaled the 27-foot, narrow chimney by bracing his back against one slippery, moss-covered wall and his feet against the other. He then climbed up another short incline to reach Parson. Using a knife, Clark cut Parson free of his harness and dragged him to a level area near the edge of the chimney. There, he administered first aid and stayed with Parson while awaiting rescue teams. Two ground rescue teams arrived but were unable to reach them. Clark remained with Parson for several hours until a rescue helicopter arrived and lowered a doctor to their location. After stabilizing Parson, the helicopter crew hoisted him from the mountain and took him to a waiting ambulance. The helicopter later returned to extract Clark and the doctor. Parson spent eight days in the hospital with injuries including several fractures, a gashed leg, and a concussion. He underwent weeks of physical therapy to regain full use of his legs from the suspension trauma. He fully recovered. Clark was not injured.
Jakaiden Rynearson, deceased
On Aug. 11, 2024, Zaneta Winters, 35, was shot in the head by her estranged partner inside her Peoria, Illinois, house. Winters collapsed near the front doorway while her 5-year-old son screamed in distress outside. About 15 seconds after the gunshot, 19-year-old store clerk Jakaiden Rynearson emerged from her house directly across the street. She jogged toward the Winters’ house, calling out, “Hey, you OK?” and for someone to call 911. Rynearson entered the front yard and approached the door, where the boy was standing. The assailant emerged from the side of the house and repeatedly shot Rynearson, leaving her critically wounded in the yard. He then fled and was later arrested by police. Winters and Rynearson were taken to a hospital in critical condition. Winters died the following day. Rynearson, who was shot in the head, neck and back, died from her injuries 2.5 months later. The assailant was convicted of two counts of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Amanda Williams
A 28-year-old man was lying on a curb in Vallejo, California, on Aug. 11, 2025, as an assailant held him down and stabbed him repeatedly in the face and head with two steak knives. A 37-year-old delivery driver from Vallejo, Amanda Williams, was driving to work and saw what she initially thought was a fight. She stopped, rolled down her window, and told the men she was going to call the police. The assailant told her to leave, but Williams then noticed the blood on the victim’s face and the knives in the assailant’s hand. The victim cried out for help, saying the assailant was trying to kill him. As Williams began calling 911, the assailant raised the knives to stab the victim again. Williams swung open her car door, ran across the street, and grabbed the assailant’s right wrist with both hands. The assailant stood and the two struggled for control of the knives. Still gripping his wrist, the assailant pushed Williams into the street and against her car. Williams used her free hand to grab the blades and twist them out of the assailant’s hand. As soon as she had control of the knives, she fled the scene with them. The assailant jumped into Williams’ still-running car and drove away. He was later arrested. The victim was treated at a hospital. Williams suffered minor cuts to her hand but was otherwise uninjured.
Glen R. Sprowl Jr., deceased
A 59-year-old man armed with two handguns opened fire inside a crowded bar in Trabuco Canyon, California, on Aug. 23, 2023, first shooting and wounding his estranged wife and then striking several other patrons. The assailant continued firing as he moved outside before going to the parking lot, where he retrieved a shotgun from his truck. Among the patrons seated outside the front of the bar was 53- year-old shop manager Glen R. Sprowl Jr., from Stanton, California. Surveillance video captured him entering the bar shortly after the assailant exited the bar. Sprowl returned outside and moved around the side of the building toward the parking lot. As he did, he encountered multiple people, and witnesses said he tried to rally them to pursue the assailant. Carrying a pocketknife, Sprowl continued toward the gunman and reached the base of a ramp to the parking lot. The assailant fired a shotgun at Sprowl, striking him four times in his upper body; Sprowl collapsed. The assailant shot two other people before sheriff’s deputies arrived about four minutes later. They engaged in a shootout, and deputies fatally wounded the man. Nine people were shot by the assailant, three of whom were killed, including Sprowl, who died at the scene.
Larry Pickett Sr.
An SUV left a Fort Montgomery, New York, roadway and struck a utility pole on Aug. 31, 2025, bringing the pole and live power lines down onto the vehicle and roadway. The lines included a primary line carrying more than 12,000 volts and a secondary line carrying more than 200 volts. Semiconscious, the driver, 65-year-old David N. Denton remained inside the vehicle. Larry Pickett Sr., 46, a Raleigh, North Carolina, business owner was driving nearby with his family and stopped near the scene. Seeing Denton inside the vehicle, in need of help, Pickett and his 20-year-old son approached the car, stepping over a downed power line in the roadway. By then, flames had broken out along the vehicle’s passenger side. Despite power lines lying on the SUV and visible electrical arcing beneath it, Pickett opened the driver’s door and leaned inside. After four attempts, he managed to remove Denton’s seat belt. Pickett’s son then also reached into the vehicle and, together, they pulled Denton free. As they moved Denton away from the SUV, Pickett tripped and fell to the ground within inches of one of the downed lines. He quickly regained his footing and, with his son, carried Denton across the road to a grassy area. Flames grew to envelop the vehicle seconds after the rescue. Firefighters extinguished the blaze from a distance because of the live power lines, which were later de-energized remotely. A fire chief at the scene and an electrical engineer who later reviewed the incident agreed that the vehicle and surrounding ground should have been electrified. Neither could explain how Pickett, his son, and Denton avoided electrocution. Denton suffered abrasions and was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where he was treated and released. He recovered. Pickett was uninjured.
Mason E. Marshall, deceased
An April 1, 2026, fire broke out at ground level outside a Lancaster, Ohio, duplex. Trapped on the upper floor was 27-year-old subcontractor Mason E. Marshall, his fiancée, their 5-year-old daughter, and their 8-month-old son. The fire rapidly spread up the outside of the building, flames extending above the roof, filling the house with thick, black smoke. With the only exterior door of their home blocked by smoke and flames, Marshall entered his daughter’s bedroom and dislodged a window air conditioner to create an escape route. Marshall picked up his daughter and held her outside the window as neighbors brought a ladder to the house. As they extended the ladder up to the window, Marshall could be heard saying, “I have to get the baby, you guys. Hurry!” A responding police officer climbed up the ladder, took the girl from Marshall, and carried her to the ground. Although an officer urged Marshall to follow him down the ladder, Marshall instead turned away from the opening and disappeared from the window, remaining inside to search for his fiancée and son. Marshall was later found in his daughter’s room. His fiancée and son were found nearby in a separate room of the house. All three had died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning due to smoke inhalation.
Jose Villalta, deceased
A Dec. 27, 2025, fire broke out on the patio of a one-story house in Stockton, California, and spread to the adjacent home. Jose Villalta, a 68-year-old custodian, awoke to heat and smoke and roused his wife and other family members, including his son and son’s partner. His son then moved to an adjacent bedroom and alerted his children, 13-year-old Marcos Villalta and an 11-year-old daughter. Once outside, the family realized Marcos remained inside the burning house. Villalta announced he was going back for Marcos and ran through the open front door. Marcos’ father attempted to follow him, but the door was thrown shut before he could enter. After repeatedly ramming the door with his shoulder, he forced it open and also re-entered the house. Inside, he found Marcos in the living room and led him to safety outside before returning to the house for Villalta. By then conditions had deteriorated and smoke and encroaching flames turned him back. Firefighters and emergency medical personnel arrived shortly. Marcos was taken to the hospital where he was treated for burns to his ears and face. He recovered. Firefighters located Villalta near the front door but were unable to reach him in time. He died in the fire.
Brent A. Delaney, deceased
In the morning on June 16, 2025, a fire broke out inside an 82-year-old man’s Alton, Nova Scotia, home. Welding Supervisor Brent A. Delaney, 60, from Alton, was driving to work when he saw the fire and pulled over. Delaney had known the man for decades. A woman who was also stopped at the scene after seeing flames saw Delaney on his hands and knees at a doorway at the opposite end of the house calling inside for the man. After the woman called 911, she lost sight of Delaney. She told the dispatcher that she believed Delaney had entered the burning house in an attempt to reach the man. When first responders arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames. Delaney and the homeowner were later found deceased inside the house near one another. Delaney died of smoke inhalation.
Mason Laney and Logan Green
A 55-year-old mother and her 15-year-old son were riding a personal watercraft on the Illinois River near Morris, Illinois, on Sept. 14, 2025, when it capsized, throwing them into the water. They were directly in the path of a tugboat pushing a fleet of 11 barges approaching them at about 4 m.p.h. The mother and son unsuccessfully attempted to right the watercraft as the massive barge platform drew closer to them. More than 200 feet away, two 19-year-olds from Minooka, Illinois, pipefitter Mason Laney and maintenance laborer Logan Green, saw the pair in the water and realized they were not moving out of the tow’s path. Laney and Green boarded another personal watercraft, and, while Green drove, Laney faced the rear so he could reach for the mother and son. They maneuvered close to the pair as the barges continued toward them, and Laney grasped the boy’s hand as Green accelerated away. When they were at a point 10 feet from his mother, the boy let go and swam back to her. Green circled the watercraft and returned for the boy as the approaching barges were only about 20 feet away. Laney grasped the boy by his hand and by his life jacket while Green accelerated away again, towing him to safety. About two seconds after they cleared the area, the barges struck the overturned watercraft. The mother had remained close to the watercraft and was submerged. She resurfaced several minutes later unresponsive and, while she was revived at the scene, she died a few weeks later. Laney, Green, and the boy were uninjured.
Eslaam Saad
Off a beach near a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, resort, a 10-year-old girl was playing in shallow water with her sister, 11, on June 15, 2025, when she started to struggle in a rip current. Lifeguards had left for the evening and the current swept the girls farther from the shore. Their father, who had been sitting in the sand near the surf, ran into the water to help the girls. On the beach, 32-year-old chemist Eslam Saad, of Dublin, Ohio, heard screaming and saw the 10-year-old struggling to stay afloat in water about 120 feet out. Saad ran into the surf, waded a few feet, and then swam out to her. When he reached her, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to the surface. Panicking, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him underwater. Saad tried to loosen her grip, but she would not let go. Saad turned to shore and started to swim underwater with the girl clinging to his neck. Occasionally, he would surface for air until he reached shallow water and stood. The girl climbed onto his shoulders and then jumped into the shallow surf. Saad walked onto the beach as lifeguards arrived and helped the girl to shore. Saad collapsed on the sand and was treated by first responders. The girl’s sister had made it out of the water, but their father remained missing. Ocean rescue personnel found him unconscious in 8 feet of water about 150 feet from shore. He was taken to a hospital but could not be revived. The girl was uninjured but taken to a hospital for observation. An ambulance also took Saad to the hospital, where he was treated for near drowning. He recovered.
Luke Nelson
While driving her SUV in Dallas, on Sept. 25, 2024, 71-year-old Carla Reyna encountered a flooded bridge above a swollen river. As she attempted to cross, the rising water lifted her vehicle off the road, rotated it, and left it resting with its undercarriage atop a submerged guide rail along the edge of the bridge. Luke Nelson, 35, a Dallas insurance broker, had driven across the bridge minutes before Reyna amid rising water and heavy debris. He had stopped to assess possible damage to his vehicle when he saw Reyna’s plight. Nelson called 911 before handing his phone to a bystander, removing his shirt, belt, shoes, and socks, and entering the floodwater. Nelson waded about 100 feet to the submerged guide rail and walked along toward the SUV. At a point near the vehicle, Nelson encountered a drop-off and submerged in water too deep for him to touch bottom. He moved to the vehicle’s driver’s door and, locating the guide rail again, anchored his foot against it. Using the rail as leverage, he opened the door enough to reach inside and grasped Reyna. He helped her exit the vehicle before helping her maneuver to its hood. Reyna briefly entered the water, but fearing she would be unable to withstand the current she said later, she returned to the hood. By that time, the hood was submerged, and Nelson used his body weight to stabilize her until responding firefighters arrived. Firefighters parked just west of the flooded creek and extended their truck’s 107-foot rescue ladder to within about 20 feet of the SUV. They then threw Reyna a flotation device attached to a rope and pulled her to safety at the ladder. Nelson was then thrown the flotation device and used it to swim to the ladder, which allowed him to exit the water. Reyna suffered bruising to her left upper arm but did not require medical attention and recovered. Nelson suffered minor scratches but did not require medical treatment at the scene. He recovered.
