Arkansas police officer proposes girlfriend after 3 years of relationship. Just hours later, he dies saving her

A Rogers police officer, 24-year-old Fred Marsh, died on July 18 after attempting to save his fiancée from drowning in the Elk River. This tragic event occurred just hours after Marsh had proposed to his girlfriend, Hailey Lummus, as the couple prepared to start their lives together in Northwest Arkansas.

According to 4029TV, the couple had been enjoying a day on the river with another Rogers police officer and his wife. As temperatures climbed, the group decided to stop on the water. Sheryl Padgett, Lummus’ mother, explained that her daughter entered the water and began struggling against the current while attempting to return to a kayak. When the other officer went to assist, Marsh also jumped in to help his fiancée. 

While Lummus was eventually pushed toward a canoe, Marsh became caught in the current and was unable to resurface. Per PEOPLE, the Missouri State Highway Patrol incident report stated the group was near Easy Street in Noel, Missouri, close to the Arkansas border. Marsh was reportedly pronounced deceased at 10:08 AM on July 19. 

An officer known for being a helper

The Rogers Police Department also announced the news of his death on July 19 on Facebook. In a similar case, in North Carolina, a boy got pulled into the ocean because of a rip current. Thankfully, his aunt, who saved him, was also rescued when she was pulled into the current.

In the Facebook post, Chief of Police Jonathan Best highlighted Marsh’s enthusiasm and his willingness to serve others. Marsh had reportedly been with the Rogers Police Department for less than a year. He graduated from the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy on April 9. 

Corporal Don Lisi, the Public Information Officer for the department, told KNWA, “It was very shocking.” Lisi remembered Marsh as a talented athlete who had played baseball in high school and college. He even recalled a time when Marsh impressed his colleagues with diving catches during a police versus fire department kickball game. 

He said, “It took a while to sink in just because he’s such a young guy, still young in his career, and just such a sudden tragedy,” In a different case, two college students fell asleep on a Santa Cruz beach. Unfortunately, at high tide, the waves swept them out to sea.

Padgett described Marsh to 4029TV as a gentle giant. She noted that he was guided by his Christian faith and was always willing to help those in need. Padgett shared that she had lost her only son in a fatal accident four years prior, and Marsh had helped fill that void. “We instantly made a connection and a bond,” she said, “I called him son, and he called me mama.” 

Per the outlet, Padgett noted that the couple had been together for three beautiful years. She stated, “Even though legally he was not my son-in-law, he will forever be my son.” She also emphasized his selfless nature, saying, “He saw the love of his life in distress, and he was going to help his friend and do what a good human would do. He gave his life helping someone else.”

Marsh’s cousin, Chris Frye, also spoke to KNWA, telling them that being a police officer was his calling. “Deep down within, he always knew that’s what he wanted to be,” Frye said. “As tragic as this is, he died the hero. He gave his life to save someone else. And that hurts to say, but it is true. His heart was in the right place. He wasn’t thinking about himself. He was thinking about others. That’s the job of a police officer.”

According to the Rogers Police Department, a motorcade was held on July 20 to escort Marsh’s body from Anderson, Missouri, to Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The procession passed through Rogers later that afternoon. Community members, family, and fellow officers gathered along the route to pay their respects to the fallen officer. 

Padgett expressed her gratitude for this support. She noted to 4029TV that the response showed how many lives Marsh had touched during his time in the community. She encouraged those who wish to honor his memory to follow his example by being kind to their fellow man. “Let’s do something in Fred’s honor,” she said. “Be kind to your fellow man. When Fred loved, he loved with everything he had, and he loved well.”

Kourtlin Ricketts, the sister of Lummus, organized a fundraiser on GoFundMe to assist with expenses. In the description, she described him as an upstanding young man who served as a son, fiancé, officer, brother, and friend. His funeral is currently being managed by Marsh’s family.