Man dies after jumping into river to save five-year-old boy in Sequoia National Park

A man has died while rescuing a five-year-old boy from rushing river waters in Sequoia National Park. 

Victor Mozqueda, 22, died in the Kaweah River on Saturday near Three Rivers, California after jumping into the rushing waters to rescue young Vincent Gonzalez despite not knowing how to swim.

Mozqueda was visiting the park along with Vincent’s parents, family friends, when the boy slipped on rocks at the river’s edge and fell into the water.

‘He was the first to jump into the water to save Vincent even though he didn’t know how to swim,’ a family member wrote on a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Mozqueda’s funeral expenses.

Victor Mozqueda, 22, (above) died in the Kaweah River on Saturday near Three Rivers, California after jumping into the rushing waters to rescue a five-year-old boy

Vincent Gonzalez, five, slipped on rocks on the edge of the river and fell into the waters

Vincent Gonzalez, five, slipped on rocks on the edge of the river and fell into the waters

‘Some how Victor manage to keep Vincent on top of his head even while he was under water so that Vincent could breath,’ the account continued.

‘We have no idea how he managed to not let go of Vincent to save his own life. He pushed him out before the current took him.’ 

Mozqueda’s family were devastated by his death.

‘He didn’t deserve to do die like that,’ said his sister Maria Mozqueda to KTLA. ‘He didn’t.’ 

Vincent was rushed by helicopter to Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera County in critical condition.

The river in Sequoia National Park near where the incident occurred is seen in a file photo

The river in Sequoia National Park near where the incident occurred is seen in a file photo

Vincent is seen recovering at Valley Children's Hospital over the weekend

Vincent is seen recovering at Valley Children’s Hospital over the weekend

The young boy recovered quickly and was released to his grateful parents on Monday.

It is the second fatality on the same stretch of the Kaweah River in just two weeks.

On June 10, a 36-year-old man from Los Angeles went into the Kaweah River downslope of the Sequoia National Park Entrance Sign parking lot, the same spot Mozqueda drowned. 

Park rangers found the man deceased. His remains were transferred to the Tulare County Coroner’s office and his name has not been released.

‘With rising area temperatures, rivers look very inviting. Please stay away as they are swift, cold, and dangerous,’ said Elizabeth Dietzen, US Park Ranger, in a statement.



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk