'He's a hero': Bucks County man drowns after saving 2 children from lake, police say

QUAKERTOWN, Pa. - A Bucks County man from Honduras is being called a hero for risking his own life to save two children struggling to swim in a local lake. 

Authorities say 37-year-old Marvin Fernandez was at the park with some friends and his brother Eddy when they saw some children struggling in the water and he jumped into action to save them. 

Police said Fernandez died on Thursday when he disappeared in the water after rescuing the two children who were struggling in the water at Nockamixon State Park.

Marvin’s sister-in-law, Lesly Canacka, said the children were with a group that Marvin knew.

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"He tried to save the kids from dying, but he can’t swim, and that’s the problem," Canacka said. "It’s hard, but I told my husband and my family he gave his life for two kids. He’s a hero for everybody."

The fire chief of Haycock Township said swimming isn’t allowed in the area where the drowning happened, noting there are deep areas where a person can drown. 

Fernandez's family has set up a GoFundMe to help raise funds to get Marvin’s body back to Honduras.