Bell, 48, and two others reportedly were caught in a whirlpool at the Seven Teacups hiking area in Tulare County, California, where officials there responded to a possible drowning just before 5:20 p.m. authorities told ABC4.

In a Facebook post Saturday, Bell’s sister, Cindi, identified the three victims as Jeannine Skinner, Peter On and Bell.

The group reportedly was rappelling in the area. On the last rappel, one member of the group descended into the water and was caught in the whirlpool. When another member of the group jumped in to save them, they both became trapped. Bell jumped in to try to get them out, but they all ultimately drowned, Runtastic Events said in its post.

Cindi Bell said in her post that the group’s bodies were pulled from the water and CPR was performed but none of the victims could be revived.

Courtesy Runtastic Events

Bell was described by family members and loved ones as a leader who cared for the community and a man who aimed to make sure people had exceptional experiences.

According to his younger brother, Tyler, Bell enjoyed amplifying peoples’ experiences and would use his own resources to do it.

Tyler Bell recounted an instance during a boating trip where David bought additional surfboards for friends of his nieces and nephews to make sure they all had the right ones appropriate for the water.

“And he himself probably only had one or two surfboards that he would actually use, but he had a good six to eight surfboards total just because he wanted to get the exact surfboard that was right for everybody else,” Tyler Bell explained. “So he was always making other people’s experiences (better) and just doing anything he could to help other people.”

David Bell was marked by his creativity and to the joy he brought to other runners through the many races he organized as CEO and founder of Runtastic Events, according to the organization. “His unmatched creativity shaped every detail, knowing that his work was providing lasting memories for families and unforgettable moments of triumph as individuals reached new (personal records),” the company said in a statement.

Courtesy Harrington Center for the Arts

But Bell’s community efforts went beyond the finish line. The events organization noted his willingness to support those with afflictions. Each of his 10 races supported a local charity, benefiting causes like cancer research, children with autism, mental health, veterans and youth athletics.

“It was incredible to be there, watch him smile, cheer people on, and just see how he helped people accomplish goals and feel the joy that comes from setting a goal, persevering, pushing yourself and crossing that finish line,” Bell’s sister, Valecia Green, told the Daily Herald.

Bell also had a passion for the arts as a founding member of the Harrington Center for the Arts and beyond that as a board member. He also served on the Visual Arts Committee, Live Music Committee and Physical Facilities Committee, the nonprofit venue said in a social media post Saturday.

“He helped set up every single event for Harrington Center for the Arts, often cleaning up into the early hours of the morning, and devoted thousands of hours to the designs for the renovation of the Harrington School,” the post stated.

Tyler Bell said their father passed away nine years ago. With David’s passing, he added, there’s a sense of peace knowing the two are now reunited.

“We’re all very religious, so just knowing that they can be together again in the spirit world is just a great comfort to us,” Tyler Bell said.

“David was somebody who valued relationships,” Green added. “David knew the relationships were what life was about with both God and his fellow man. He loved both dearly.”

Perhaps one long-lasting memory family and loved ones will carry forward was David Bell’s intentions to save two lives Friday.

“He lived a hero and died a hero,” Tyler Bell told the Daily Herald. “So it doesn’t surprise us at all the way he went, just because he was always such a hero in life.”

A GoFundMe fundraising account has been set up in his honor to help cover funeral-related costs. A similar fundraiser has been set up in memory of Skinner.

The upcoming Runtastic NEBO race along Payson Canyon on Sept. 7 will be dedicated to Bell’s legacy.