A man died trying to save his 10 year old granddaughter from drowning in a frozen puddle in Illinois.
The events were reported Saturday morning after the girl, identified as Ma’Liyah White, followed two of the family’s six dogs into the body of water in Charleston.
According to the GoFundMe account of Amanda Beals, aunt of the minor, when Ma’Liyah fell into the freezing water, her sister Bailey ran to the house to ask for help from grandparents Bill Croy and Carlos Serafin.
“The two little dogs ran into the frozen puddle and Ma’Lyiah who was solid enough for her too. Unfortunately, it wasn’t,” the campaign reads on the fundraising page.
“Carlos jumped into the water with a broomstick to try to save Ma’Lyiah, but she was already under the ice and he was also trapped,” added the woman in the description of the campaign that seeks to collect money for medical and funeral expenses.
Croy, who is the legal guardian of the girls, also jumped into the water, but could not find the victims.
Charleston Fire Department personnel arrived on scene and recovered Serafin’s body and the girl. She is in critical condition.
Three dogs were also rescued from the water, but one of them later died.
“Carlos loved those girls very much and all their dogs,” Beals told Herald & Review.
“We as a family cannot fail to emphasize how much of a hero Carlos is and how much he really loved his family and would do everything for them,” the woman pointed out.