HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ – A tragedy unfolded in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, where a man drowned after he successfully rescued two children from drowning in a local river.
Pablo Hernandez Cruz, a 49-year-old resident of Mays Landing, noticed the children, aged 8 and 12, facing difficulty in the Great Egg Harbor River in Weymouth Furnace park on Wednesday. After getting the two boys to safety onshore, Cruz was met with fatal danger. The man was tragically sucked underneath the water and went missing.
Atlantic County officials said that although the Great Egg Harbor River is attractive for tubing, kayaking, and canoeing. However, despite these recreational activities, this river is considered to be dangerous. There are irregular deep sections and powerful currents, which made swimming there off-limits.
Cruz was discovered sometime later and rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead upon arrival. Meanwhile, the two boys were also given medical attention; the older boy was treated for undisclosed injuries before being released, whilst the 8-year-old was taken to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Further details on his health condition have not been made available. It remains uncertain whether Cruz knew either of the boys he had saved.