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SALT LAKE CITY — Hundreds of Utahns answered a police officer's plea for help to bring his father's body home in another example of a community coming together during a desperate time of need.
Unified Police officer Brandon Sulich has one goal — to bring his father's body home after a tragic accident in Mexico took his life. He started a GoFundMe account*, aiming for $7,000. Thanks to hundreds of generous people, that goal was met and more than doubled in just one day.
"It's overwhelming. I mean, my family and I, we keep checking that GoFundMe page and it's just exploded," Sulich said. In three days it totaled $15,920.
"Sometimes you can start to lose faith in humanity, and this has restored it," he said. "Complete strangers have been donating, and it's overwhelming. I don't even have words to put to it."
But Sulich said it's not just about the financial support. It's about feeling so much love from so many people.
"It kind of gives us some hope," he said. "A funeral is hard enough to plan. This has just compounded all the difficulties."
Earlier this week, Sulich received life-altering news. His father died unexpectedly while vacationing in Cancun. He was snorkeling when a strong current pulled him under.
"One phone call I went from being taken care of to taking care of everybody," he said.
Sulich said people often call police officers heroes. In fact, he was hailed one just a couple of months ago for saving two people from a burning home while on his way to a fellow officer's funeral. But he said he's not even close.
"He was the one who took care of me. He was my dad," he said. "My dad was my hero. He was my inspiration."
Sulich said thanks to so many strangers, so many giving people, he's one step closer to bringing his hero home.
"Whenever the next tragedy is, I want to be there for somebody else the way everyone has been there for me," he said.
Sulich is not sure when his father's body will return home because of needed paperwork that is still being completed. Extra funds raised would be put toward funeral costs, Sulich said.
*KSL.com has not verified the accuracy of the information provided with respect to the account nor does KSL.com assure that the monies deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
