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A heroic teenage West Point cadet who attempted to save a struggling swimmer on a Long Island beach has died after a four-day battle for his life.
Festus, Mo. native Thomas Surdyke, 18, would have turned 19 on the Fourth of July, but could not be saved after being on life support since the June 24 incident.
Surdyke was at Southampton Beach while on R&R with a fellow cadet when he and another person, whom he had met that day, were caught in a rip current, according to a family’s statement on a Go Fund Me page.
The teen noticed that his new acquaintance was struggling to swim in the strong tide, and attempted to help the person, witnesses told Southhampton authorities.
Surdyke swallowed seawater in his rescue effort and nearly drowned, before crews plucked him from the water and attempted to revive him, the crowdfunding page reads.
“They lost his heart beat three times on the way to the hospital,” family said, adding that he suffered severe brain damage from ingesting ocean water.
The other swimmer survived.
Surdyke was entering his second year at West Point and was praised by family as a young man “with character, integrity and faith,” according to his grandfather, who spoke to KSDK-TV in St. Louis.
The West Point cadet and another cadet had tried to save a stranger but was also swept out to sea.
(via GoFundMe)
The 18-year-old achieved the rank of Eagle Scout before going to West Point, according to a photo posted to Facebook by Missouri Congressman Jason Smith to commemorate the honor.
“He will be attending the prestigious military academy West Point in the fall,” Smith said in the May 11,2015 post.
Surdyke’s family said that the teenager will continue to give to others, even in death.
“Tom chose to donate his organs and with this selfless act he continues to serve others in death as he did in his life,” a family statement read.
The teen’s family's Go Fund Me campaign raises money for a scholarship fund for other "leaders that uphold the same values Tom upheld," and will help with funeral expenses.
The page says the teen gave “the ultimate sacrifice after saving the life of another American." So far the fundraising effort raised over $30,000 of their $40,000 goal.
With News Wire Services