Dale Mooney, the Patriots fan who died after being sucker-punched during the Dolphins game Sunday selflessly saved a young girl’s life on a New Hampshire beach in 2009.
The Patriots fan and dad of two who died after another fan sucker-punched him during New England’s game against the Miami Dolphins over the weekend selflessly saved a young girl’s life on a New Hampshire beach years earlier.
Dale Mooney, who died at 53 Sunday, put his own life at risk in July 2009 when he spotted the child caught between the rocks near a jetty on Hampton Beach and rushed to save her, according to a local news report from then.
“The waves were slamming over her and she couldn’t even stay on her feet,” Mooney told Seacoastonline of the near-tragedy. “She kept falling in between the rocks, trying to keep her head above water.”
The girl was trying to retrieve her boogie board but got suck among the rocks as the tide rose and winds gusts hit 30 mph, according to the outlet.
Mooney, then 39, got closer to the girl and soon found himself surrounded by the unrelenting surf and waves.
“We were both pretty scared at that point,” he said.
But he said he couldn’t give up on the child — who was a total stranger to him.
“Once I made eye contact with her, I couldn’t turn back. As the two or three big waves came up, I told her, ‘Hold your breath, hold your breath.
