WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | Man gives his life to save drowning boy
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TYBEE ISLAND, GA (WTOC) - Homer Roberts Junior is being hailed a hero after giving his life while trying to save a drowning 12-year-old boy.
On Friday, some people visiting Tybee Island from Columbus, Georgia were swimming across a channel on Tybee when they got trapped in strong rip currents.
One of those swimmers, 12-year-old Antonio Dunbar, was being pulled under the water. That's when his mother Muriel Dunbar, said 33-year-old Roberts went into action.
She said he pulled her son out of the rip current.
"Homer said, 'Not today. Boy won't drown today, not today. Not while I've got breath in my body,'" said Muriel Dunbar.
After pulling the 12-year-old free, the rip current got a hold of Roberts and he wasn't able to stay above the water.
"A hat, shirt and some clothes. That's the only thing got to remember him by," said Arnold. "I lost my soul mate, my best friend."
Roberts' body is expected to arrive in Columbus Tuesday morning. Funeral arrangements are still being made.
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