Arimo community honors teen who died saving girlfriend

Seventeen-year-old Marcos Gil will forever be remembered as a hero.

Gil died about two weeks ago after he jumped into the Portneuf River and saved his girlfriend from drowning.

Friday night, friends and family came together to honor Marcos and his sacrifice.

BBQ, baseball and favorite memories – that’s how friends and family spent the evening remembering Marcos Gil.

“He was like a little brother to me,” said Hondo Gil, cousin. “Great kid, I loved him.”

Marcos is remembered as a dedicated athlete.

“Marcos loved baseball of all things but he also played basketball and football,” said Alicia Vasquez, one of Marcos’ sisters.

Marcos also loved being outdoors and having adventures.

“There was not a day I remember him staying at home – ever,” Vasquez added.

His family said he had a big heart and cared for everyone.

“I don’t think I’ve ever known anybody who didn’t love Marcos,” Vasquez described. “I mean he was like the light in everybody’s life. He made everybody smile. We were always laughing and joking when we were with Marcos.”

“He was an outgoing person,” said Lindsay Gil, another sister. “He was funny, he was pretty much the class clown I heard from all his friends. He helped people who needed help. He had friendships everywhere he went. There was not a place he would go and not make friends.”

“He loved everyone he met,” Hondo Gil said. “Not a lot of negativity that came from him – always a positive kid.”

It was his big heart that would earn Marcos an award never before given to someone other than law enforcement.

“This award has never been given to a citizen,” said Bannock County Sheriff Lorin Nielsen. “We always reserve it for officers. But we felt this was an exception.”

So the sheriff’s office presented Marcos’ family with the life-saving award in honor of his sacrifice. Marcos was able to save his girlfriend from drowning in the Portneuf River but the current was too strong and ended up pulling Marcos under.

His family said they are not surprised Marcos put another life ahead of his own.

“He would regret it if he didn’t do it because that’s the type of person Marcos was,” Vasquez said.

“The fact that he jumped in and saved her, I couldn’t picture him doing anything else,” Hondo Gil added.

The Portneuf Veterans also presented the family with a flag and a wreath.

And Marcos leaves behind one more legacy. In his hometown of Arimo, the city park will forever bear his name.

The money raised to eat at the BBQ, the bake sale, and other events from Friday night will all go to the Gil family to help pay for funeral costs.