A man drowned after rescuing two children who were swimming in a lake in Pennsylvania on Thursday evening.
The man, identified as Marvin Alexan Fernandez Chicas, 37, was swimming with the children in Tohickon Creek at Nockamixon State Park when they got into trouble. Chicas went in to help them, but he began to struggle and disappeared underwater.
Haycock Township Fire Chief Harry Grim told the outlet that authorities sent a team to try to rescue Fernandez Chicas after receiving a 911 call from two children.
“We had about 10 divers,” he said. “Multiple boats from Point Pleasant, Bucks County, Haycock Fire Company, the Palisades Regional and stuff. The guys did a great job. It took about two hours until we found the body.”
Authorities found Fernandez Chicas’ body about 25 feet from shore, Grim told WFMZ-TV. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Bucks County Coroner’s Office has confirmed his cause of death as drowning following this morning’s autopsy with the manner of death determined to be accidental,” the office said.
The coroner’s office expressed their condolences and said Fernandez Chicas’ family has been contacted about his death.
The children, who were not identified, were taken to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries.
The incident is still under investigation, but authorities believe that Chicas died a hero.
“This man is a hero,” said Bucks County Park Police Chief Matt Weintraub. “He saved the lives of two children, and he paid the ultimate price.”
Chief Grim said that sometimes visitors do not abide by the rules, which leads to a “sad reality” due the dangerous environment.
He explained that the 1,450-acre lake does not have “a smooth, gradual slope under the water.”
“They step off into a deep area, they take a gulp of water, and they die unfortunately,” he continued. “It shouldn’t happen, but it does.”
He then issued a message to future visitors: “Don’t swim in Lake Nockamixon.”
Grim added, “It’s zero visibility this time of year. Divers at 10 feet cannot see their own hands in front of their face. So the chances of us finding them and being able to retrieve them and have them recover are pretty much slim to none.”
The hero dad who drowned saving two kids was fishing with his young son when he sprang into action – even though he couldn't swim.
Marvin Alexan Fernandez Chicas was spending the day with his 3-year-old son Dylan and a few friends on Lake Nockamixon when he "drowned in the lake,… pic.twitter.com/SpDSC4lIsm
— Entering Manhood (@EnterManhood) July 3, 2023
