A tragic event unfolded at Lake Waxahachie, Texas, where 21-year-old Lincer Lopez drowned while attempting to rescue a 15-year-old girl shortly after his own baptism.
Incident Details
On August 24, Lopez was at the lake, just outside of Dallas, with a group of churchgoers from Garland, Texas, for a baptism ceremony. Moments after his baptism, Lopez noticed his friend, Genesis Delgado, struggling in the water. Without hesitation, he swam out to help her. Despite his best efforts, Lopez’s strength gave out, and he submerged underwater, unable to resurface.
Genesis recalled her terrifying experience: “I was like this is it, I’m just gonna die here, and nobody’s gonna be able to find my body. All these flashbacks were coming, and memories, and then I just blacked out.”
Rescue attempts
Jacob Bell, who was boating on the lake at the time, saw the emergency and quickly jumped into action. He managed to pull Delgado onto his boat, performed CPR, and successfully revived her. “I got her breathing again and got her to the shore,” Bell told NBC DFW.
Unfortunately, by the time Bell returned to look for Lopez, it was too late. “I ran across the dock area into the lake and swam around and dove down and finally found the boy and pulled him up to safety,” Bell said. “And he had already passed.” He described Lopez as a hero, noting, “He didn’t think twice about rescuing someone else. He didn’t think about the risk that he could die. And he did risk his life to save somebody else’s.”
Community response and memorial efforts
Lopez’s heroic actions and tragic death have deeply affected his community. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help send Lopez’s body back to his hometown of Chiapas, Mexico, where his parents, seven siblings, and other family members are mourning his loss.
Reflecting on the impact Lopez had, Genesis expressed her gratitude: “I thank you, Lincer, for everything you tried to do, and I hope I can see you again soon, I believe I will.”
Lopez’s uncle, Jacobo Lopez, shared that Lincer was so eager for his baptism that he had trouble sleeping the night before. Known for his dedication, Lopez worked in construction and regularly sent money to support his family in Mexico.
Local authorities also mourned the loss. The Waxahachie Police Department issued a statement: “The Waxahachie Police Department, along with the entire community, would like to extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family.”
Lincer Lopez’s bravery and selflessness have left a lasting impression on all who knew him, and his story of courage and sacrifice continues to resonate within his community and beyond.