The grandchildren were at their deceased grandparent’s house when the heartbreaking event happened. One of them called 911 and carefully followed the steps given to move him into the right position.
A GoFundMe page has been created in memory of Manuel Javier Pinzon, who lost his life on May 28, 2025, while shielding his eight-year-old twin granddaughters, Isabella and Gabi.
According to Jason Krause, Manuel’s son-in-law, the tragic event took place that same day the grandchildren were visiting his home in Dacula, Georgia.
As they wandered through the forested area behind Manuel’s house, Isabella and Gabi found a baby deer, Jason said in an interview. They quickly returned to tell him, and he suggested they have lunch before going back to check if the deer was injured or needed water.
Following their meal, the family stepped back outside to check on the deer. At around noon, Manuel, his sister, and the twins were in the yard when Isabella and Gabi heard a “loud, crashing sound above them,” Jason explained.
“As soon as they heard that sound, they got pushed really hard from the side by him to the ground,” he added. The girls, startled by the sudden impact, turned and saw their grandfather lying on the ground.
According to Jason, they noticed he had been struck by a large tree limb, which he estimated weighed between 65 and 75 pounds. Falling from a height of at least 60 feet, the limb struck Manuel directly.
“He took the full brunt of that branch on his head,” revealed Jason. Moments later, Manuel began bleeding from his head and nose. As panic set in, the family sprang into action.
In a separate interview, Gabi remembered, “I told my sister to run to the front yard and just do something to help and get some help.” While Isabella ran to alert the adults inside, Gabi took quick action.
With her hands stained in blood, she reached for Manuel’s phone. “My other aunt came out here, and I told her to pass me the phone, and I called 911 and they just told me what to do,” the youngster explained.
Gabi did everything she could to help her grandfather. She gently placed a rag behind Manuel’s head and tried to keep it steady, but the bleeding wouldn’t stop, and he began coughing up blood.
Manuel was then rushed to Northside Hospital Gwinnett. After the emergency unfolded, word quickly reached Jason and his wife, Andrea Pinzon Krause. She rushed to the hospital to be by her father’s side, but despite medical efforts, Manuel passed away four hours later.
Meanwhile, Jason went straight to the house to comfort Isabella and Gabi. When he arrived, he found both girls “covered in blood and were in shock,” he recalled.
Recognizing the emotional weight of the loss, Jason shared that the twins would begin trauma counseling, as Manuel — who regularly picked them up from school twice a week — had been “one of the biggest influences in their life.”
As the weight of the tragedy settled in, the depth of the family’s grief became even more evident. Just thirty minutes after Manuel’s passing, one of the twins sent a heartfelt message to his phone that read:
“You died for me.”
“He marked everyone that came in contact with him. Everybody loved Manuel,” said Jason, adding, “He was a great person. I’ve known him for almost 18 years now, I wish I could be half the person he was. He was amazing.”
The very next day, Manuel’s granddaughters honored his memory in their own heartfelt way. “As a hero, as the one who was the only person who saved me,” said Gabi.
Manuel’s bravery in his final moments was just one chapter in a life marked by selflessness. Nearly three decades earlier, he had made another courageous choice — leaving Colombia with his wife and daughters after political violence took his mother’s life, and bringing them to safety in the United States.
Throughout his life, he was known for putting others before himself. “He chose to protect his sister and these two girls instead of himself. And I don’t think that should be forgotten. He was a hero,” said Jason in a separate interview.
As loved ones reflect on the outdoorsman’s life and legacy, they also face the deep void he leaves behind. Manuel is survived by his wife of 50 years, Beatriz Arias, his two daughters, and five grandchildren. He was just days away from celebrating his 78th birthday on June 8, 2025.
To honor his memory and support the family, Jason launched a GoFundMe campaign. In just a few days, it has raised over $1,000, with a goal of $11,000, ahead of the upcoming memorial service.
