'He was my hero': Fiance drowns trying to save friend in Georgia lake

Jasmine Smith said her fiancé died a hero.

Last Friday, Corey Brown jumped off a pontoon boat in Georgia's Lake Lanier to save a friend struggling in the water. Instead, currents swept him under the water, prompting a days-long search that ended tragically.

Authorities recovered his body Monday morning near Vann's Tavern Park in Forsyth County, AJC.com previously reported.

"He was my hero," Smith told WSB-TV on Wednesday. "He always watched after me."

They met on social media and instantly knew this was special. FaceTiming until they fell asleep, talking for hours. She moved from San Diego to be with him and they were engaged. But last Friday, her fiancé died on Lake Lanier. Why she says he died a hero, at 5 on @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/1VhlB64iDn
— Lauren Pozen WSB (@LaurenPozenWSB) July 3, 2019

Brown, 28, jumped into the water with four friends to help someone struggling. None were wearing life jackets.

Jason Albert, a resident on Lake Lanier, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources saved the four from the waves, but Brown never resurfaced.

"It was rough chop," Albert, who was driving by during the incident, told WSB-TV. "They were flailing, and they were bobbing up and down. Their mouths were clearly going under the surface."

Smith said her fiancé was a good swimmer, and they had hoped to find him on the shore.

They were going to get married and start a family. Now those plans are off the table after Corey Brown drowned on Lake Lanier trying to help a struggling swimmer. At 4, what his fiancé wishes she could have told him before he jumped in the water. pic.twitter.com/PXkNHsUq1Z
— Lauren Pozen WSB (@LaurenPozenWSB) July 3, 2019

"If I was there to know that he had been outside all day, swimming all day, I knew he would automatically be tired," Smith told WSB-TV. "I would have told him before you do anything — try to save anybody — just make sure you have a life jacket."

He was the ninth person to die on Lake Lanier this year, according to game wardens.

A GoFundMe page was set up by Smith for his family. As of Wednesday evening, more than $500 has been raised of its $10,000 goal.