MAITLAND, Fla. -- A funeral service will be held Friday for Michael Grady, who Eyewitness News learned, died while trying to save his son from a raging river.

The Maitland father drowned over the weekend in the Cullasaja River, near Highlands, North Carolina. Grady reportedly fought the rapids for an entire hour, struggling to keep his son's head above water.

"It's a reminder so much of how fragile life is. It can be gone in an instant," said friend Sid Cash.

Cash says he will never forget Michael Grady.

Friends said Grady was the type of man who would make any sacrifice for his family. Last Sunday he did.

While on vacation in North Carolina, his 12-year-old son Austin was swimming near a waterfall when his foot wedged under a boulder. Michael Grady jumped into the raging river.

Witnesses say for nearly one hour, Grady held his young son's head above the churning water.

"You have to reflect. I sure hope I would be man enough to do the same thing. But he did it. He saved his son," said Cash.

However, rescuers could not save Michael Grady. He died in the river.

Grady's wife Lisa sent a message to Eyewitness News.

"Everyone wants to make Mike a hero. It was just Mike being Mike. He would have done that for anyone."

Another close family friend, Deb Tralka, agreed with Grady's wife.

"He'd do it over and over again. Even if he knew it would take his life and I don't imagine him thinking before he did it, 'this could be dangerous to me.'" Tralka said. "He was really strong. He would have given everything to be able to save that boy."

Friends say several little league baseball groups in the area are organizing fundraisers to help the Grady family.