Corona Man Who Saved Son from Drowning, Only to Drown Himself, Identified

LAKE PERRIS, Calif. (KESQ) - A man who saved his 7-year-old son from drowning at Lake Perris after their kayak capsized but ended up drowning himself was identified today as a 55-year-old Corona man.  

Hadi Ahmadi died a short time after he was pulled from the water Saturday afternoon by rangers at the Lake Perris State Recreation Area.   

Ahmadi and his son, neither of whom were wearing life jackets, were kayaking shortly after 4 p.m. in the vicinity of Moreno Beach when their vessel flipped over, dumping them both into the water, according to California State Parks.

The victim kept his son from sinking "but was unable to save himself," the agency said.  

The boy's cries drew attention along the shore, and a patrol boat was immediately dispatched from the docks, authorities said.   

Rescuers found Ahmadi "unconscious and partially submerged,'' with his son clinging to him "to keep himself above water," according to California State Parks.

"Investigators noted the father heroically kept his son afloat throughout the ordeal, supporting him until rescue personnel arrived,'' the agency stated.  

Both were safely placed in the boat, where CPR was performed on Ahmadi, a process that continued on the beach until an ambulance arrived more than a half-hour later. He was transported to Riverside University Medical Center in Moreno Valley, where he was pronounced dead at 5:40 p.m. Saturday.

The child, whose name wasn't disclosed, underwent an emergency room examination and was reportedly uninjured, released to the custody of family members.

"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," the agency said. "California law requires children 12 and under to wear a life jacket on a moving recreational vessel of any length."   

The Riverside County Coroner's Office is handling the investigation.