The beginning of a story today about a local hero:
To his friends, Kent Sandefur lived his life a hero, and last week died one.
They say he was forever helping out. If a family needed a hand building a swing set, Sandefur of York, S.C., was there banging nails. If a co-worker at US Airways needed a day off to be with family, Sandefur was quick to volunteer.
He and wife, Becky, often looked after children of friends.
Last week, off the shore of Tybee Island, Ga., near Savannah, Sandefur and two children of friends were shell hunting on a sandbar when suddenly all three were fighting for their lives after a tide swept them into the ocean. Sandefur helped the children, ages 9 and 6, to safety.
He didn’t make it.