I don’t know many parents who wouldn’t lay down their lives for their kids. Most of us know that if push came to shove, we’d be first in line to shield our kids from just about anything. Very few of us, thankfully, are forced to put our money where our mouths are, but sadly, one 54-year-old dad to a 7-year-old boy had to face that harsh decision and it ended up costing him his life, according to People.
An unnamed man and his son were kayaking at Lake Perris State Recreation Area in California when their boat capsized. On December 7, 2025, the California Department of Parks and Recreation stated that the man successfully kept his son afloat on December 6, when the incident happened.
“At approximately 4:13 p.m., California State Park peace officers at Lake Perris SRA responded to reports of screaming and persons in distress in the water near Moreno Beach,” the news release read.
The release also stated that although a life jacket was in the boat, neither the father nor son was wearing it. When officials arrived at the scene via a patrol vessel, they immediately recovered the unconscious, partially submerged man and his son. They believe the man held his son above the water for as long as he could.
“The 7-year-old boy was in distress but conscious and holding his father, helping to keep himself above water. Investigators noted that the father heroically kept his son afloat throughout the ordeal, supporting him until rescue personnel arrived,” the release continued.
Michelle Juarez, a witness who was boating on the lake and heading to the dock at the time, said she saw the emergency boat speed in.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Juarez told OnScene.TV., “I would say it was … at least 45 minutes that CPR was going on. We could hear from the boat [someone] saying, ‘Take the child to the ambulance.’ … Something tragic definitely happened.”
Officers immediately began CPR on the father and got him transferred to Riverside University Health System, where he was declared dead. The young boy was taken to the hospital for evaluation as well.
The incident remains under investigation. In the news release, state park officials reminded community members of the importance of wearing appropriate safety gear.
“State Parks urges all visitors to wear a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket at all times while recreating near or on the water. California law requires children 12 and under to wear a life jacket on a moving recreational vessel of any length.”
