Barbourville Man Dies Saving People On Mississippi River

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http://www.lex18.com/news/barbourville- ... ppi-river/

A Barbourville man dies in St. Louis and the the reason is making headlines around the city.

Kyle Hardman is being called a hero. What Hardman did wasn't in his job description as a tug boat worker on the Mississippi River, but his actions saved lives.

On Tuesday evening, five people, including two young children, were fishing from a small bass boat when they ran out of fuel. The river's current caused the boat to drift over a mile down the river, where it became pinned against a barge and capsized.

Hardman and another tug boat worker jumped in another small boat to try and rescue them, but while handing the smallest of the children over to the rescue boat, Hardman fell into the river. The Coast Guard believes the 55-year old may have been sucked under the barge.

The Times Tribune in Corbin reports that Hardman worked for Island Marine for about a year. The company is based near Covington. Workers there described Hardman as a seasoned mariner.

The paper also reports Hardman leaves behind a wife and daughter in Barbourville