A 22-year-old man drowned Saturday morning in Sequoia National Park when he jumped into the Kaweah River to try to save a 5-year-old who slipped into the stream.
According to a park release, a family entered the park about 6:45 a.m. and walked down to the river near the park entrance sign. After the 5-year-old slipped into the river, the 22-year-old jumped in after him.
"The parents then jumped in to help, and three fishermen bystanders assisted in getting the parents and child out of the water," the park release said. "One of the fishermen and the boy’s father began CPR and were able to resuscitate. The boy was then transported by the Exeter ambulance up to the Life Flight helicopter and was flown out to Kaweah Delta in Visalia, CA. The boy has since then been transported to another hospital where he will continue treatment."
It took rescuers about two hours to find the body of the 22-year-old. His name was not immediately released.
This is the second river fatality within two weeks in Sequoia National Park, and they were both similar incidents in the same location. Back on June 10 a 36-year-old Los Angeles man died when he was swept down the Kaweah River after slipping in near the same entrance sign.
“The issue is not people trying to swim. People and children fall and slip into the river, and family members jump in after them to try to save them. In both cases, the family members who jumped in after the children did not survive.” said Sequoia District Ranger Dave Fox. “The rocks are super slick on the river’s edge, and people should avoid getting close to the water. Please enjoy the river from a safe distance and away from the slippery rocks.”
The rivers that travel through the foothills in Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks are fed by snowmelt and are much faster than expected, park staff warn. Entering into one of these rivers is not only dangerous for the public but also for the rescuers.
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