Kershaw County Sheriff Lee Boan praised the two men during a press conference on Monday, calling their actions heroic and selfless.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The community continues to mourn the loss of 21-year-old Valentin Quiroz and 43-year-old Lonnie Hancock, who both tragically died this past Saturday while attempting to rescue a 13-year-old boy who had fallen into the river near Wateree Dam.
Kershaw County Sheriff Lee Boan praised the two men during a press conference on Monday, calling their actions heroic and selfless.
“These two men put another’s life before their own,” Sheriff Boan said. “That’s the definition of heroism, and that’s what we need to remember here.”
Hancock’s former high school athletic coach, Lance Abernathy, spoke with News19 about the loss of his former student-athlete. Abernathy said he was heartbroken but not surprised by Hancock’s actions.
“There was no thought, no hesitation,” Abernathy said. “He saw a kid in trouble and sprang into action, because that’s just who he was. That’s what he did, and that’s what he knew.”
Abernathy first met Hancock in 1998, during his first year teaching and coaching at Chesterfield High. He fondly recalled Hancock’s drive and determination both on and off the field.
“A lot of people called him Diesel because he was strong, explosive,” Abernathy said. “Once we got him on the right track, he was all in. He loved to compete, loved to work out, and gave everything he had every single day.”
Hancock was a member of both the high school wrestling and football teams. Abernathy noted that Hancock was an All-Region football player and a two-time Top 3 state placer in wrestling before graduating in 2000. He later joined the Navy to further his academic career.
Sheriff Boan added that Quiroz, a family friend of the distressed boy, and Hancock, a complete stranger, both acted without hesitation to save the young boy.
“For me, looking at everything, this is more of a hero story than a drowning story,” Boan said at the press conference. “And that’s what I want to shed light on.”
Boan also honored Hancock’s service to the country, noting that he retired from the U.S. Navy in 2020 after 20 years of service. Hancock was a Petty Officer First Class, and he leaves behind a wife and four children.
News19 reached out to the family of Valentin Quiroz, but they declined to comment. Hancock’s wife also declined an interview but shared photos of her husband for the public to remember him by.
In a heartbreaking twist, Hancock’s final act of heroism occurred on his 43rd birthday.
Funeral services for both Quiroz and Hancock are currently being finalized.