Story By: William McGee, Sub-Editor:  Lee Bullen, Agency: Newsflash

A sergeant is being hailed as a hero after he saved his 9-year-old son from drowning – but then drowned himself.

Police sergeant Cassio Ferreira de Assis, 41, drowned at Praia Grande, in the popular coastal municipality of Arraial do Cabo, in south-eastern Brazil, at around 10am on 21st September.

According to local media, Assis and his wife were on the beach when they saw their son being pulled out by the current.

Assis jumped into the water and managed to bring his son to safety, but ended up being taken away by the waves.

According to local media, Assis was rescued alive by the local fire brigade, but he died on the way to the municipal hospital. No details of the rescue have been provided.

Assis worked as a police sergeant in the south-eastern city of Belo Horizonte.

His childhood friend and colleague, Herbert Feital, told local media: “He worked for seven years in the battalion and he was much loved by the whole troop. One of the best officers we had here. We are very sad about the situation and now we will treasure and be thankful for the time we spent together. I knew him from childhood, we lived in the same neighbourhood and it was a pleasure to work with him. We’ll miss him a lot.”

The battalion commander, Colonel Andre Domiciano de Oliveira, commented to local media: “He died like a true hero.”

Assis’ death came just one day after another tourist from Belo Horizonte died at a beach in the municipality of Cabo Frio, which borders Arraial do Cabo.

The 19-year-old male, who could swim, was pulled alive from the sea and taken to hospital, but he later died of a suspected heart attack.

Assis’ funeral took place on 22nd September in Belo Horizonte.

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