A man has drowned while attempting to save two struggling children as they swam in a lake in a US state park.
Marvin Alexan Fernandez Chicas died in the Lake Nockamixon waters, in Pennsylvania, shortly after bringing the youngsters to shore.
Lake Nockamixon is the largest lake in Pennsylvania’s Bucks County, spreading over 1,450 acres.
The children, who have not been named, got into difficulty in the water in the Tohickon Creek at around 5pm. His body was found two hours later by specialist divers.
Coronor Meredith Buck said on Friday the cause of his death had been confirmed as drowning following an autopsy. They added the cause of his death appears to be accidental and offered their “deepest condolences” to the family.
Haycock Township Fire Chief Harry Grim reported that a team of 10 divers were deployed to rescue Chicas when the incident was reported to them,
Speaking to WFMZ, Grim said: “Unfortunately, people don’t follow the rules, and the sad reality is it’s not a smooth, gradual slope under the water, and they step off into a deep area, they take a gulp of water, and they die unfortunately. It shouldn’t happen, but it does.
“Don’t swim in Lake Nockamixon. It’s zero visibility this time of year. Divers at 10 feet cannot see their own hands in front of their face.”
Swimmers have been banned from entering Tohickon Creek by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
A GoFundMe has been set up to bring Chicas’ body back to his mother in Honduras and to help his wife and three-year-old son Dylan.
