Father, son recount searching for man who died trying to save 2 kids from drowning in New Jersey river
MAYS LANDING, NJ - A father and son recounted how they were able to help first responders locate a man in a New Jersey river who authorities say died after wading into the water to save two boys from drowning.
Officials say two boys, 8 and 12, went swimming in a prohibited spot of Great Egg Harbor River that runs through Weymouth Furnace in Hamilton Township on Wednesday afternoon. It's believed Pablo Hernando Cruz, 49, saw the boys struggling to swim and entered the water to rescue them.
Paul Horsey, who was at the park with his son Hunter, said he was told Cruz "pushed the kids to where [first responders] could reach them," then submerged into the water. The incident unfolded under the Weymouth Road Bridge where a turbulent whirlpool is visible even from the surface.
"There's a line where it just drops from 4 to 5 feet deep down to 12 feet," said Paul's son Hunter Horsey. The stretch of water is marked with signs that read "Prohibited, No Swimming," some installed in 2021 after another drowning incident.
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Man dies after rescuing 2 kids from drowning in prohibited area of New Jersey river
A man has died after authorities say he rescued two boys from drowning in a New Jersey river on Wednesday afternoon.
"It's hot, they want to cool off there. It looks shallow, and it is shallow. So they think they're wading in, and it just drops off at the end it gets deep, and they get themselves in trouble," Paul Horsey said.
The father and son said they had just dropped off tubers when they saw a frantic police officer who told them about the unfolding incident. They followed the officer to the area where Cruz was last spotted, and they jumped into the water to search.
Hunter found Cruz underwater and unconscious and brought him to the EMTs on the riverbank, who immediately started CPR and efforts to try to resuscitate him.
"They come under the bridge; it's rough, fast moving waters," Hunter said. "It's been a common occurrence right in that spot."
Cruz, a Mays Landing resident, was pronounced dead after being rushed to a nearby hospital. The 12-year-old was treated and released from a local hospital, according to authorities, and the 8-year-old was taken to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
The father and son, from their 50-year-long family-owned Winding River Campground, are among many wondering what can be done to prevent this from happening.
"It happens every couple of years, but there was a great turnout of police response time [and] dive team," said Hunter.
Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson extended his condolences to the Cruz family, and urged park visitors to "heed the warnings" about swimming in the river.
"The water is deep and can be dangerous for swimmers which is why we prohibit swimming," Levinson said. "We don’t want any family to have to deal with this type of tragedy."