Three heroes died to save the students

They gave theirr lives for the kids.

Three faculty mem-members — all of whomom worked as coacheses — died in Wednes-sday’s shooting,, and at least two off them literally stepped between the gunman andd the students.

They took thee bullets meant foror their young charges,rgges, officials and witnessesneesses say.

Aaron Feis (bot-bottom), 37, “died pro-protecting others,”rs,” said Browardard County Sheriffiff Scott Israel,el, whose two sonsns were coached by Feis at tragicic Marjory Stone-neman Douglas HS in Parkland, Fla.

“He is a protector,”ctor,”or, said his sister, Johannahaanna of Mahaffey, his bravery who’d l learned earned from another coach att tthe school.

“He shielded twoo kids from beingg shot. He took thee bullets himself,” student Julien Decoste, who survived by hiding in a closet with class-smates, told NBCBC News.

“As I was beingg es-escorted out of the build-building, I had to step overover him. Right then and there, I kknew,” Decoste said.

“He had to have been dead or injured.”

Geography teacher Scott Beigel (top), 35, who coached cross- country track, died as he rushed to secure students inside his classroom. Beigel was shot as he pushed the laslast kid inside and then turnturned to lock the door. “HHe unlocked the doodoor and let us in,” stustudent Kelsey FFriend said on “Good Morning AAmerica.”

“I had thought he was behind me, but he wasn’t. When he opened ththe door, he had to rerelock it so we coucoulduld stay safe, but he ddidn’t get the chancee tto.” It’ss uunclear how the thirdh faculty memberber died. But athletletic director and wrwrestling coach ChChris Hixon (mmiddle), 49, was ththe kind of coach wwho’d give his life fofor his students, his colleagues said. “CCoach Hixon wawas ana extraordinary manman,”,” Joseline Velarde,larde, wwho used to work withh HHixon at South BroBrowardow HS, told ThThe Post.

“While most SSouth Broward aalumni remember him for being strict and making sure the rules were followed, I reremember him as ththis kind man that alwalways greeted me with a smile,” she said. “He wwas always ensuringing we wewere all safe and he was alwaysl rooting for us from the bleachers at football games,” she said.

“His wit and sarcasm were always followed by laughter. His intentions were always kind.”