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Jerry Parr, the Secret Service agent in charge of Ronald Reagan’s detail who was credited with saving the president’s life during the 1981 assassination attempt, has died in Washington at 85.
Jerry Parr was pictured in news footage bundling the President into his limousine following the attack by John Hinckley Jr outside a Washington hotel on 30 March 1981.
The car sped away towards the White House but after Mr Reagan complained of chest pains and showed blood on his lips, Mr Parr redirected the car to George Washington Hospital.
It turned out Mr Reagan had been hit in the chest and was bleeding internally.
Doctors later said any delay would have cost the President his life.
In a statement, former First Lady Nancy Reagan called Mr Parr “one of my true heroes”.
Mr Parr, who was born in Birmingham, Alabama, was an Air Force veteran who joined the Secret Service in 1962.
He retired in 1985 and became an ordained minister.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, and three daughters.
Agencies/Canadajournal
