LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. — Loved ones and co-workers are mourning the death of a husband and father of three following a weekend trip to Lake Jacomo.
Fabian Torres, 31, was on a boat Saturday afternoon when he saw two children who were wearing life jackets having trouble in the water, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Torres, who lived in Kansas City, Missouri, jumped in to rescue the children, but he didn't resurface.
"There's a lot of tears, disbelief that somebody so young, vibrant and healthy, that this could be the situation that we’re in,” said Brian Hiltunen, president of Pro Tools, LLC and Torres' boss.
On Sunday, divers recovered Torres’ body.
"He was the type of guy who if somebody needed help, he’d be the first one to help, not just in emergency situations," Hiltunen said.
Hiltunen hired Torres three years ago. He says Torres quickly rose through the ranks before getting his own truck and routes to sell Snap-on tools.
"You know, in our business of sales, people buy from people, and Fabian had a charisma about him,” Hiltunen said. “You know, he was always smiling, joking around, pulling pranks on people, and people just enjoyed seeing him walk through the door.”
He says Torres cherished being a family man.
"His world revolved around his family, so if anything needed to be done at the house during the day, Fabian would call me that he’s going to the house to take care of something," Hiltunen said.
Hiltunen says that’s why he decided to set up a GoFundMe campaign to help Torres’ family moving forward.
"If you didn’t know Fabian, he was just the highlight of the week for our customers,” Hiltunen said. “He was very positive, a lot of energy, and if you’ve heard his laugh you won’t forget his laugh. It was infectious. He’s going to be sorely missed by his family here at Snap-on, his brothers in Chrome, and we’re all just praying for him."
