Patriots fan who died after altercation at game once saved girl who was in danger of drowning

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A New England Patriots fan died after what witnesses said was an altercation in the stands at Gillette Stadium on Sunday night.

Dale Mooney was 53 and a season-ticket holder for the club for 30 years. He was also a hero to a little girl 14 years ago.

On July 11, 2009, Mooney was at Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, when he noticed a girl caught between rocks trying to retrieve her boogie board in the middle of 30 mph winds and rough waters.

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Retro Pat Patriot helmet during a game between the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 17, 2023, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

"The waves were slamming over her, and she couldn't even stay on her feet," Mooney said at the time, via Seacoastonline. "She kept falling in between the rocks, trying to keep her head above water."

Mooney stood 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighed 260 pounds at the time, yet the waves were almost too strong for him, let alone a young girl. He admitted even he was "pretty scared."

However, once he sprang into action, there was no turning back.

"Once I made eye contact with her, I couldn't turn back. As the two or three big waves came up, I told her, 'hold your breath, hold your breath.' And then boom, the wave would hit us. Then we'd fight to stand up and she tried to stand up. She was slipping and sliding," he said.

The girl jumped on Mooney's shoulders, who carried her back to shore.

"The next day I was very sore, took some Advil and toughed it out," he joked.

A general view of Gillette Stadium before the game between the Buffalo Bills and