A father of three who survived the 9/11 attacks on his second day at work at Morgan Stanley drowned trying to save a group of children on a raft that capsized.
Luke Laidley, 43, was celebrating the July 4th holiday near Chicago’s Elder Beach on Lake Michigan at around 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, pulling a raft of children when the boat suddenly capsized.
Laidley immediately jumped into the water to save several children who could not swim. Officials said he was underwater for about a minute before he and the children were pulled to safety, firefighter Winnetka said.
CPR was performed on the hero’s father before he was rushed to Evanston Hospital where he died hours later, reported ABC 7 Chicago.
The married father of three – ages 7, 5, and 3 – is a Chicago native who graduated from Boston College and moved to New York to work at Morgan Stanley in what would be his first finance job out of college.
The investment banking firm is the largest tenant in Tower 2 of the World Trade Center and Laidley works on the sixth floor.
Luke Laidley, 43, a married father of three died after he jumped into the water to save a group of children from drowning when their boat capsized. His family called him a ‘devoted family man’
Boats on Chicago’s Elder Beach near Centennial Beach Park
It was his second day on the job when two planes sank into the tower, and he was able to eject safely, the news outlet reported.
After 9/11 he moved back to Chicago and met his wife, Lauren. The couple would later have a family.
Laidley, grateful to have survived an imaginable tragedy, wrote about the near-death experience, his family told the news outlet.
He wrote: ‘I encourage all of us to counting our blessings every day. Give yourself and don’t expect anything in return. And be a part of something bigger than yourself.’
Lake Michigan incident witness Amy McCarter told the ABC that “the man running the boat jumped to call the kids someone called 911 because some kids were screaming he was having trouble swimming.”
Winnetka Fire Chief John Ripka called the incident “tragic,” The Chicago Tribune reported.
The fire chief said it was unclear at this time whether Laidley suffered a medical emergency when he jumped into the water and drowned.
In his obituary, his family described him as a “devoted family man,” and someone who “lived the hero’s song” after surviving the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
A true family man at his core, not only with his own wife and kids but also a wonderful brother to his 5 siblings, his in-laws and uncle to his 17 nephews,’ read the news.
‘ Her smile lit up the room. She exudes positivity and persistence with everything she does. He loves very much and truly with all his heart.
‘[Lukelivedhislifeguidedbyhisexperiencesandhehadseveralexperiencesthatallowedhimtogivecompassionloveinspirationandleadershiptoothers[LukemenjalanihidupnyadipanduolehpengalamannyadandiamemilikibeberapapengalamanyangmemungkinkandiauntukmemberikankasihsayangcintainspirasidankepemimpinankepadaoranglainDiamenghidupilagupahlawan'[LukelivedhislifeguidedbyhisexperiencesandhehadseveralthatallowedhimtobestowcompassionloveinspirationandleadershiptoothersHelivedahero’ssong’
Source: | This article originally belonged to Dailymail.co.uk
