John Servati, a well loved and respected student at the University of Alabama, passed away in the hospital he sustained from a concrete wall he was holding up during a tornado to save his girl friend.
His life before was a legacy and to many a hero.
"John Servati died a hero," a friend of the 21-year-old student, Anna Gwarjanki, wrote Tuesday on Twitter. She continued "[He] held up a concrete wall long enough for his girlfriend to get out from under it before it collapsed again on him," wrote Gwarjanki.
Servati is a decorated scholar as a three time Southeastern Academic Honor Roll and praised as a U.S. Open qualifier who set records in the 100 backstroke and 200 freestyle in Mississippi during his prep career.
The mother of Servati testifies to fulfilling both his life dreams.
"John's mom told our team this morning he always wanted to be an Alabama swimmer, and he always wanted to be a hero. He accomplished both," tweeted Gwarjanki.
Head coach Dennis Pursley and Director of Athletics Bill Battle from the University of Alabama praise John all the more "He was a model student-athlete who excelled in his sport of swimming, his pursuit of excellence in academics, and his value as a son, brother, friend and teammate to all who knew him," said Battle and echoed by team captain Philip Deaton.
"John definitely had a genuine heart," stated Deaton. "He was a carefree guy who always had this huge smile on his face ... As a team, we are doing the best we can right now."
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