A man who survived the 9/11 attacks in New York City has died after jumping off a boat in a desperate bid to save a child who had fallen into an icy lake in a Chicago suburb.
Luke Laidley, 43, was rushed to hospital on Tuesday afternoon after being pulled from the waters of Lake Michigan but he sadly later died.
According to witnesses, the Chicago dad-of-three was boating with others on the lakefront when a child fell off a raft being pulled by the boat.
"Everybody's sort of gathering on the beach, and someone dialled 911, because the kids were yelling that something was down," witness Amy McCarter told CBS Chicago.
Mr Laidley started having problems in the water before others could pull him back onto the boat. They began CPR as the boat returned to the shore.
Winnetka Police Chief Brian O'Connell said police and the fire department were called to near the Elder Beach at around 1.20pm.
After graduating in 2001, Mr Liadley took a job at Morgan Stanley in Tower 2 of the World Trade Centre in New York City.
"His second day on the job was September 11, 2001," his family wrote in a statement to WLS-TV. "As a survivor of the 61th floor of Tower 2, he later wrote, 'I encourage all of us to count our blessings each and every day. Give of yourself and expect nothing in return. And become part of something that is greater than yourself.'"
The family said he leaves behind a wife and three young children.
Susan Rajkovisch, who lives down the street from Laidley and his family in Winnetka, told Chicago Sun Times: “He would have done anything for anyone.
“They’re a lovely family, and he was such a wonderful man.”
His obituary read: "A true family man to his core, not only with his own wife and kids, but an incredible brother to his 5 siblings, inlaws, and uncle to 17 nieces and nephews.
"His smile lit up the room. He exuded positivity and perseverance with everything he did. He loved deeply and truly with all his heart."
