Jacob Opheim (37) died after jumping into the sea to save a boy. Now friends have collected 1.3 million.

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“Your support will help ease the burdens of the small family who have now lost their husbands and fathers,” it says. splice which on Saturday night has reached over 1.3 million.

Stian Ferkingstad is among the childhood friends who started the collection in consultation with the family.

– The response has been enormous. We set a goal of 500,000 for Christmas. It was reached after half a day, he says.

The family now receives support messages from both home and abroad. It shows that this is a case that affects a lot, says Ferkingstad.

– It says something about what person he was. And what he did. Many feel empathy with the family now.

A superhero

It was last Sunday that the police and fire brigade reported a boy who had fallen into the water north of Skudeneshavn in Rogaland.

At the same time, Jacob Opheim went for a walk with his wife in the area. He became aware of the boy and ran to the scene to help. Some surfers nearby also assisted in the rescue operation.

The eight-year-old boy in the sea survived. But Opheim was unconscious when he was picked up on land. He was transported by helicopter to Haukeland University Hospital.

For two days Opheim fought before the heroic deed cost him his life.

His wife and two young children remain.

“He sacrificed his life to save a young man. He is a superhero “, wrote Opheim’s wife on Facebook.

To Aftenposten, she says that she is overwhelmed by the response and that she lacks words.

Many would help

Jacob was a well-liked person and an important resource in the local community, it says in the splice.

“He was concerned that most people should feel both good and safe wherever they may be.”

The reason for the collection is that many both inside and outside the local community have expressed a desire to help the family financially.

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