Bride in wedding gown breaks down at firefighter fiancé’s grave on the day they were to marry

One grieving bride moved the internet to tears with a heartbreaking tribute to her late fiancé on the day they should have been married. The deceased was a firefighter and was on his way to save a life when he lost his.

Jessica Padgett lost the love of her life before they got to walk down the aisle, but she decided to hold the September 29 ceremony all the same. She wore her wedding gown, and along with family and friends, headed for the grave of her late fiancé, Kendall James Murphy.

Heart-wrenching photos show Jessica hunched over Murphy’s tombstone in tears. She also posed for several pictures with Murphy's boots, his firefighting gear and with loved ones. In one photo, the bereaved bride had the image of Murphy photoshopped in place beside her.

Jessica’s ceremony also included speeches from the maid of honor and best man, before the Padgett-Murphy family lit paper sky lanterns above Murphy's gravesite.

The post was shared on Facebook by Loving Life Photography and has already been shared over 27,000 times.

“She made broken look beautiful and strong look invincible. She walked with the Universe on her shoulders and made it look like a pair of wings,” the photographer wrote.

HOW MURPHY DIED

The late Murphy was a firefighter for Montgomery, Indiana, and tragically lost his life in November 2017 when his colleague, Colby Blake, crashed into him with his vehicle.

On the night Murphy was killed, he, Blake, and another colleague had received a call about a driver who was stuck inside his vehicle. While responding to the scene, Blake rammed another truck with his truck and kept going to strike another one.

SELFLESS TO THE END

Murphy who was already on the scene in his personal vehicle was reaching for his protective outfit in his left rear passenger seat when Blake ran into him. Murphy died on the spot. He was aged 27.

Blake was arrested and charged with causing death when operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content of .15 or more, but the case is yet to be set for trial.

Murphy, whose father and grandfather had also been firefighters, was described by the National Fallen Firefighters Association as a:

“Selfless man of God who loved spending time with family and friends. He had a true servant’s heart and captivating personality that would light up any room. His wittiness would make anyone laugh and have him making friends in no time.”

Murphy proposed to Jessica in 2016.

ANOTHER FIREFIGHTER LEAVES A GRIEVING FIANCÉE

Like Jessica, another bride-to-be mourning a fiancé lost in the line of duty is Thanda Ngcobo from South Africa. Ngcobo lost her firefighter fiancé, Mduduzi Ndlovu, in a building fire that occurred in Johannesburg.

Ngcobo and Ndlovu, who already have two children, had just completed their traditional engagement ceremony and were planning to marry when the tragedy struck.

Speaking to Drum Magazine, a brokenhearted Ngcobo said:

“I don’t know what I will do without him. I don’t even know what’s happening around me or what date it is. My mind is not functioning but at least I can speak now.”

May the hearts of everyone who has lost a loved one be comforted.