Oxnard man drowns in Oregon trying to save 12-year-old daughter
OXNARD, Calif. (FOX 11) - An Oxnard man lost his life Thursday afternoon when he jumped into a river to try to save his 12-year-old daughter and drowned.
The incident happened at about 2:09 p.m. at North Fork Park along the Little North Fork of the Santiam River -- south of Portland, Oregon.
The man has been identified as Baltazar Tellovelasco, 29, of Oxnard.
The Marion County Sheriff's Office says Tellovelasco went into the water to help his daughter who appeared to be struggling. She was able to make it out safely but Tellovelasco reportedly went underwater and did not resurface.
Bystanders were able to eventually get Tellovelasco out of the water before emergency responders arrived at the scene, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Despite life-saving efforts from crews from the Lyons Fire District and Stayton Fire District, Tellovelasco was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Little North Fork of the Santiam River is a popular recreational area in the Santiam Canyon. Sheriff's officials say that even on warm days, the water remains very cold, swift, and can be deeper than anticipated by swimmers.