Family, classmates and professors are mourning the death of 30-year-old UC Davis medical student Joshua Brandon Crane. The five-year Navy veteran disappeared underwater Friday at a social event he organized for his medical school colleagues. “She saw some women in distress in the San Juan Rapids,” her sister Jessica Crane told KCRA 3. She jumped off her board and went into the water and pulled them out.” The Sacramento Metro Fire Department and the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office Sacramento County recovered his body in the American River on Saturday.”In every sense of the word, he was a hero,” his sister said.”He was a hero to a lot of people, everyone sees him that way. He’s my biggest hero.” Crane was born in Chico and raised by his single mother with her sister. His father died 29 years ago Monday. He went to Chico High School, then joined the Navy at the age of 18. He served for five years and was stationed at Camp Pendleton and in Okinawa, Japan. When he returned, he enrolled at Chico State for undergraduate classes, with dreams of going to medical school. “I was waiting for Davis,” his sister said. “That was the biggest.” Fast-forward to this summer, Joshua was a fourth-year student at the UC Davis School of Medicine Associate Dean of Students Dr. Sharad Jain told KCRA 3 he was working to get a residency in Internal Medicine. He dreamed of doing that at UC Davis, too. During his time in medical school, Dr. Jain said Joshua volunteered with homeless people, refugees who were new to the area. Sacramento and vulnerable and marginalized communities Dr. Jain and Joshua met on Thursday, the day before he disappeared under the American River. The two had a special bond. “We talked about her hopes, his dreams and his ideas for a future career,” he reflected. “I felt like he was in a really good place at the time, so I think that made this loss even more tragic.” Right now, the medical school is working with Joshua’s family to organize a memorial service. His classmates have organized a GoFundMe to help his family in the meantime. If you want to help, click here.
Family, classmates and professors are mourning the death of 30-year-old UC Davis medical student Joshua Brandon Crane.
The five-year Navy veteran disappeared underwater Friday at a social event he hosted for his medical school colleagues.
“He saw some women in distress in the San Juan Rapids,” his sister Jessica Crane told KCRA 3. “Without hesitation, he jumped off his board and waded into the water and pulled them out.”
Sacramento Metro Fire and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office recovered his body in the American River on Saturday.
“In every sense of the word, he was a hero,” his sister said. “He was a hero to a lot of people, everyone sees him that way. He is my biggest hero.”
Crane was born in Chico and raised with his sister by their single mother.
His father died 29 years ago on Monday.
He went to Chico High School, then joined the Navy at the age of 18.
He served for five years and was stationed at Camp Pendleton and Okinawa, Japan.
When he returned, he enrolled at Chico State for undergraduate classes, with dreams of going to medical school.
“I was waiting for Davis,” his sister said. “That was the big one.”
Fast-forward to this summer, Joshua was a fourth-year student at the UC Davis School of Medicine.
Associate Dean of Students Dr. Sharad Jain told KCRA 3 that he was working toward a residency in internal medicine. He also dreamed of doing that at UC Davis.
During his time in medical school, Dr. Jain said Joshua volunteered with the homeless, refugees who were new to the Sacramento area, and vulnerable and underserved communities.
Dr. Jain and Joshua met on Thursday, the day before he disappeared under the American River. The two had a special bond.
“We talked about his hopes, his dreams and his ideas for a future career,” he reflected. “I felt like I was in a really good place at the time, so I think that made this loss even more tragic.”
Right now, the medical school is working with Joshua’s family to organize a memorial service.
Meanwhile, her classmates have created a GoFundMe to help her family. If you want to help, click here.