A 37-year-old Pennsylvania man drowned after rescuing two children who were trying to fight for their lives in the waters of a state park, authorities said.
Marvin Alexan Fernández drowned last Thursday night after disappearing into the water after saving the two children at Nockamixon State Park, according to the Bucks County Coroner’s Office.
Fernández noticed that the two children were fighting for their lives in Tonickon Creek around 5:00 p.m., and he dove into the water to bring the children to shore, but drowned, the New York Post reported.
Meanwhile, Haycock Township Fire Chief Harry Grim said at least 10 divers fanned out around the creek to search for Fernandez, WFMZ reported. Two hours later, divers recovered Fernández’s body.
The tragic event comes amid the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ ban on swimmers from entering Tohickon Creek.
People are also prohibited from swimming in Lake Nockamixon, which is the largest in Bucks County at 1,450 acres.
Grim told the aforementioned outlet that swimmers often mistake parts of streams and lakes for shallow when they can actually be very deep and dangerous along the shoreline.
“Unfortunately, people don’t follow the rules, and the sad reality is that it’s not a deep gradual smooth incline, they take a drink of water and die in a coma unfortunately. It shouldn’t happen, but it does happen,” lamented Grim. “(Lake Nockamixon) is zero visibility this time of year. Divers at 10 feet can’t see their own hands in front of their face.”
With information from the New York Post
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