Three Guatemalans died trying to rescue a child in the San Joaquin River. The lifeless bodies of Guistillo Rivas, Edwin Perez and Danilo Gutierrez were found on July 5 thanks to the intervention of Rio Vista firefighters with the support of local sheriffs and the San Francisco Police Department.
The victims managed to pull the boy out of the water but they were not as lucky; after the heroic act they sank. People "watched them go under and never saw them come back," said Rio Vista Battalion Chief Brandon Wilson. The three deceased Latinos had lived in Oakland for 10 years,
Extensive search
The incident took place in the vicinity of the Sacramento and San Joaquin River delta, 40 miles south of Sacramento. Authorities conducted an exhaustive search for two hours but then established recovery operation protocol, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The unfortunate event occurred on July 4 in front of family and friends of the victims. According to information published by Univision, the Guatemalan Consulate promised to provide support and repatriate the bodies.
On the other hand, The San Francisco Chronicle also reported that this weekend, in a similar event in California, a man drowned in Lake Berryessa on Sunday, while trying to save his son. The child was saved.
