A brave teenager drowned after carrying several younger children to safety near a dam.
Raina Lynn Neeland, 18, died after heroically saving the lives of the children, believed to be her cousins - one of whom was only eight years old.
Witnesses reported that a group of children had been swimming in a river near the dam in Minnesota, USA, when some of them were caught in turbulent water that came rushing over the dam, according to a Facebook post from the Clearwater County sheriff's office
The children "could not free themselves", witnesses told police, but Ms Neeland had pulled several of them to safety before being pulled under the water herself.
When police arrived at the scene last Monday, they found Ms Neeland and an eight-year-old girl had been pulled from the water at Clearwater Lake in Sinclair Township.
Both had been initially unresponsive, but bystanders had been able to resuscitate the youngster.
However, despite attempts by medics to save Ms Neeland, she remained unresponsive.
Witnesses told police she had been under the water for around 10 minutes.
The Sheriff's office said the water level at the dam had been "considerably higher" than normal due to a large amount of rain in the area.
A GoFundMe campaign shared on Facebook by the sheriff's office said the children Ms Neeland had saved were her younger cousins.
The page, which was set up to help pay for Ms Neeland's funeral costs, has so far raised $27,000 (around £20,700).
More than 700 well-wishers have so far donated to the page with many paying tribute to the courageous teenager.
One described Ms Neeland as a "selfless young woman, and inspiration to us all", while another simply posted: "A superhero".
Another said: "Raina is an extraordinary example of courage and selflessness. May your family’s anguish be softened by her heroic actions and legacy. You raised a beautiful soul."
And another poignantly wrote: "Truly a selflessness individual. Was going to try saving those children even if it meant her own life."
