Current:Home > My21-year-old celebrating baptism drowns saving girl in distress in Texas lake: Police-InfoLens
21-year-old celebrating baptism drowns saving girl in distress in Texas lake: Police
View Date:2024-12-23 18:58:03
A family is mourning after a man in Texas drowned when he jumped in a lake to try and save a teenage girl who was in distress, police said.
A 21-year-old man died around 12:45 p.m. on Saturday at Lake Waxahachie in Waxahachie, Texas, when he attempted to rescue the girl, who was part of a large church group from Garland, Texas, the Waxahachie Police Department said in a Facebook post.
The girl was eventually pulled out of the water by a Red Oak, Texas boater and revived after being given CPR, police said. She was taken to a hospital for further medical care.
The man was recovered from the lake and also taken to a hospital, but he would soon be pronounced deceased, according to the social media post. Police did not release the name of the young man.
"The Waxahachie Police Department, along with the entire community, would like to extend our deepest condolences to the victim's family," the Facebook post said.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner identified the man as Lincer López, WFAA reported. USA TODAY contacted the medical examiner's office on Monday but did not receive a response.
GoFundMe created for drowning
A GoFundMe was started for Lincer Mejía López, and it identifies him as the man who drowned at Lake Waxahachie at 12:45 p.m. on Saturday. The page asks for the public's help to raise funds to transport López's body to his hometown of Chiapas, Mexico, where "his loved ones await."
López was the oldest of seven siblings, according to the GoFundMe.
"All Friends wish to express our deepest condolences to the family of LINCER MEJÍA LÓPEZ Thank you for your support and expressions of affection towards his family GOD BLESS YOU," the fundraiser page's description says.
The GoFundMe, which has a goal of $25,000, has already reached over $13,200 in donations.
'He was a hero'
López's family and friends told WFAA that he was at Lake Waxahachie that day for a baptism. Shortly after members of the church were baptized, the teenage girl with the group began drowning, prompting López to dive into the lake and save her, the Dallas-based TV station reported.
Jacobo López said his nephew was looking forward to his baptism so much that he could not sleep the night before.
"He was a hero," Jacobo López told WFAA. "He didn’t think twice about rescuing someone else. He didn’t think about the risk that he could die. And he did risk his life to save somebody else’s."
López would also send the money he earned from his construction job to his siblings in Mexico, Jacobo López told WFAA.
"He had just been baptized and gave his life to the Lord, and our family, we pray for his family, and we pray for the little girl's family," Jacobo López told the TV station. "And he was a strong boy, they should be very proud of him."
veryGood! (33426)
Related
- Veterans Day restaurant deals 2024: More than 80 discounts, including free meals
- TikToker Bella Bradford, 24, Announces Her Own Death in Final Video After Battle With Rare Cancer
- The adult industry is booming. Here's what you need to know about porn and addiction.
- Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker's Baby Rocky Gets Priceless Birthday Gift From Sylvester Stallone
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Something Corporate
- Remembering Quincy Jones: 10 career-spanning songs to celebrate his legacy
- Pottery Barn 1-Day Sale: Snag $1.99 Wine Glasses, $7.99 Towels, $2.99 Ornaments, and More Deals
- Old Navy’s Early Black Friday Sale -- Puffers, Sweaters & More Up to 77% off & Deals Starting at $3
- Jason Kelce collaborates with Stevie Nicks for Christmas duet: Hear the song
- New York's decision to seize, euthanize Peanut the Squirrel is a 'disgrace,' owner says
Ranking
- Georgia's humbling loss to Mississippi leads college football winners and losers for Week 11
- How to Build Your H&M Fall Capsule Wardrobe: Affordable Essentials to Upgrade Your Style
- Dawn Staley is more than South Carolina's women's basketball coach. She's a transcendent star.
- Quincy Jones, music titan who worked with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson, dies at 91
- Ryan Reynolds Makes Dream Come True for 9-Year-Old Fan Battling Cancer
- Rob Gronkowski’s Girlfriend Camille Kostek Reacts to Gisele Bündchen’s Pregnancy News
- Fantasy football Week 9 drops: 5 players you need to consider cutting
- 2 Ohio officers charged with reckless homicide in April death of Frank Tyson
Recommendation
-
The results are in: Peanut the Squirrel did not have rabies, county official says
-
Dogs on the vice-presidential run: Meet the pups of candidates Tim Walz and JD Vance
-
Early Week 10 fantasy football rankings: 30 risers and fallers
-
New York State Police suspend a trooper while investigating his account of being shot and wounded
-
25 monkeys caught but more still missing after escape from research facility in SC
-
Ex-officer found guilty in the 2020 shooting death of Andre Hill
-
Wisconsin Republicans look to reelect a US House incumbent and pick up an open seat
-
Rudy Giuliani cleared out his apartment weeks before court deadline to turn over assets, lawyers say