A hero father kept his 7-year-old son above water at the cost of his own life after their kayak capsized in a lake east of Los Angeles over the weekend, authorities said.
Rescuers found the boy clinging to his dad’s unconscious body on Lake Perris Saturday afternoon after bystanders reported screaming and “persons in distress,” according to the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
Investigators believe the 54-year-old dad, who they have yet to identify, drowned while holding son above the water.
Rescuers pulled the pair from the lake and gave the father CPR before paramedics transported him to a hospital in the city of Riverside, where he was pronounced dead.
“The 7-year-old was being treated at the hospital for evaluation,” the Parks Department said.
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Neither the dad nor his son had on a life jacket when their kayak flipped, even though state law requires children 12 and under to wear them on any moving water vessel.
Michelle Juarez was boating on the lake when she came upon the desperate struggle to save the father’s life.
“I would say it was ... at least 45 minutes that CPR was going on ... We could hear from the boat [someone] saying, ‘Take the child to the ambulance,’” she told OnScene.TV.
Another panicked family member looked on as rescuers struggled to save the man, the outlet added.
“California State Parks extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this tragedy,” the Parks Department wrote, urging boaters to always wear life jackets.
