A former Georgia fire captain died as a “true hero” saving the lives of two drowning swimmers in Panama City Beach Thursday afternoon.
Retired Captain Richie Alford's body was recovered shortly after 1 p.m. The two swimmers were successfully rescued.
“He did what he was taught to do, save lives. And that's what he did,” Alford's father said.
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“They were sitting on the beach in lounge chairs until he [Richie Alford] heard a man screaming. He went to save him but got caught in a riptide and couldn't get out.”
Friends and colleagues of Richie Alford said that the 52-year-old loved helping others in their time of need most than anything else.
“That's what he lived for. That was his personality, to help people,” Robert Alford said.
