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A 54-year-old father has died after his kayak capsized in a California lake after a heroic rescue of his young son, authorities said.
California State Parks peace officers responded to a report of people screaming and in distress just after 4 p.m. Saturday at Lake Perris State Recreation Area near the town of Riverside, according to California State Parks officials.
The father and his 7-year-old son, neither of whom has been identified, were kayaking when their boat capsized. Officials said neither of them were wearing life jackets.
Authorities recovered the father, who was unconscious and partially submerged in the water, while his son “was in distress but conscious and was helping his father keep himself above water by holding on to him,” authorities said.
“Investigators found that the father heroically kept his son afloat throughout the ordeal and supported him until rescue personnel arrived,” officials said.
First responders immediately began CPR on the father, and both he and his son were taken to the hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.
His son remains hospitalized for evaluation.
Parkgoer Michelle Juarez witnessed some rescue, telling ktla First responders spent nearly an hour trying to revive the father.
“I would say CPR was going on for at least 45 minutes. We could hear them from the boat saying, ‘Take the baby to the ambulance,'” she said. “I just pray for the family.”
California law requires children under 12 to wear a life jacket on moving recreational vessels.
“California State Parks expresses its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this tragedy,” officials said in the press release.
The Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office is investigating the cause of death. The incident is also being investigated by California State Parks law enforcement personnel.