Man Who Saved Toddler’s Life Was Found Dead In Mt Ruapehu Crater Lake, NZ On Saturday

According to TVNZ, 39-year-old Richard Ebbett was found dead in Mount Ruapehu Crater Lake, NZ on Saturday, September 30th, 2017. He left on Thursday to go skiing at Whakapapa Ski Field on Mount Ruapehu, but failed to return. He was found in the lake on Saturday and initial reports indicated that he accidentally fell in.

In 2001, Richard was traveling from a motorcross even in Kawhia, NZ when he saw a tractor trailer-crash down a bank. Upon impact, the driver was killed, two children were trapped, and a toddler was thrown face-down into a drain. Richard stopped and was able to free the toddler from the drain. If he hadn’t done so, police reported that the child would’ve died. He was a true hero and will always be remembered for that.

“I jumped out while the van was still going. I just ran down to get the kids out,” Richard told the Manawatu Standard at the time of the tractor-trailer crash.