X

Alabama Swimmer Dies Saving Girlfriend During Tornado Outbreak

John Servati, a swimmer at the University of Alabama, is being hailed a hero following his death during the recent tornado outbreak in the South. Servati did everything he could to save his girlfriend from a collapsing wall, according to WSFA.

The captain of the swim team, Phillip Deaton, said of Servati, “He had just a genuine heart. He cared about every one of his teammates.”

Servati died in the basement of a home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Monday night. He and his girlfriend were seeking shelter from the tornadoes when ran weakened a wall that then collapsed. He was pronounced dead at a hospital in Alabama.

Another teammate of Servati’s, Anna Rae Gwarjanski, tweeted:

“John Servati died a hero. Held up a concrete wall long enough for his girlfriend to get out from under it before it collapsed again on him.”

The University of Alabama assistant coach of swimming and diving, James Barber, said, “He was someone that was almost larger than life with his personality, his perseverance as an athlete.”

Servati also worked as a big brother for the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of West Alabama.

“He lived for the team,” Lucas Smith, Servati’s high school swimming coach, said. “He loved the team. That’s what drove him. He loved the team.”

Jim Vassallo: Jim is a freelance writer based out of the suburbs of Philadelphia in New Jersey. Jim earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and minor in Journalism from Rowan University in 2008. While in school he was the Assistant Sports Director at WGLS for two years and the Sports Director for one year. He also covered the football, baseball, softball and both basketball teams for the school newspaper 'The Whit.' Jim lives in New Jersey with his wife Nicole, son Tony and dog Phoebe.

Follow Jim Vassallo on Google+