Selfless cop proposed to girlfriend just hours before sacrificing his life to save her
A 24-year-old Arkansas police officer proposed to his girlfriend just hours before sacrificing his life to save her from a raging river. Officer Fred Marsh had asked his girlfriend, Hailey, to marry him before the couple headed out canoeing with friends on Missouri’s Elk River. The officer's heroic actions ultimately led to his tragic death, leaving his fiancée and community in mourning.
- ▪Officer Fred Marsh proposed to his girlfriend Hailey just hours before his death.
- ▪Marsh and a fellow officer jumped into the river to save Hailey, but Marsh was swept away by the current.
- ▪The couple had been together for three years and had formed close bonds with Hailey's family.
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Metro Selfless cop proposed to girlfriend just hours before sacrificing his life to save her By Justin Choi Published July 23, 2026, 12:01 a.m. ET (function() { var overlay = document.getElementById("nyp-player-lcp-overlay"); if (!overlay) { return; } function hideOverlay() { overlay.remove(); } function afterDCL() { requestAnimationFrame(hideOverlay); } if (document.readyState === "loading") { document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", afterDCL, { once: true }); } else { afterDCL(); } })(); See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The California Post on Google An 24-year-old Arkansas police officer proposed to the love of his life just hours before making the ultimate sacrifice — drowning while trying to save her from a raging river.
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