NEED TO KNOW
- A ‘heroic’ father has died after the kayak he was traveling in with his 7-year-old son capsized
- The 54-year-old man attempted to keep his son afloat in the vessel and subsequently drowned
- The California Department of Parks and Recreation noted in their press release about the incident — which took place on Saturday, Dec. 6 at Lake Perris, California — that neither the father nor the son was wearing a life jacket despite there being one in the kayak
A man has died trying to keep his son afloat after their vessel capsized while kayaking at Lake Perris State Recreation Area.
On Sunday, Dec. 7, the California Department of Parks and Recreation revealed in a press release that the 54-year-old had died after helping to keep his 7-year-old son alive and afloat on Saturday.
“At approximately 4:13 p.m., California State Park peace officers at Lake Perris SRA responded to reports of screaming and persons in distress in the water near Moreno Beach,” the release read.
The kayak capsized after the pair had been kayaking offshore, according to officials.
Neither the father nor son was wearing a life jacket during the incident, but one was located on the vessel, per officials.
“State Park peace officers quickly arrived on scene via patrol vessel and immediately recovered the man, who was unconscious and partially submerged,” the department added.
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They went on to say that the child “was in distress but conscious and holding his father, helping to keep himself above water.”
“Investigators noted that the father heroically kept his son afloat throughout the ordeal, supporting him until rescue personnel arrived,” the department continued.
Authorities said the father and son were pulled from the lake before CPR was performed on the man.
“I would say it was … at least 45 minutes that CPR was going on,” witness Michelle Juarez told OnScene.TV, per Los Angeles Times. “We could hear from the boat [someone] saying, ‘Take the child to the ambulance.’ … Something tragic definitely happened.”
The father and son were both taken to Riverside University Health System, “where the father was pronounced dead,” the department said. “The 7-year-old was being evaluated at the hospital.”
The department expressed their “deepest condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this tragedy.”
The California State Parks law enforcement and the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office are reportedly investigating the incident.
“State Parks urges all visitors to wear a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket at all times while recreating near or on the water,” the department urged in its release. “California law requires children 12 and under to wear a life jacket on a moving recreational vessel of any length. For safety tips when recreating in the outdoors, visit parks.ca.gov/SafetyTips.”
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