Father and son die after man jumped in North Texas creek to try to save the drowning boy
A father died Saturday after he jumped into a North Texas creek to try to save his drowning 6-year-old son, and the boy’s body was recovered on Sunday, authorities said.
Dallas Fire-Rescue responded to a 911 call shortly after 1:30 p.m. Oct. 5 near 2779 Mountain Creek Parkway.
First responders were told that the child was swept under the water while he was fishing with his father at the creek, the fire department said. The boy’s father jumped in to try to rescue him and he also was swept under. Neither of them resurfaced.
Dallas Fire-Rescue, Dallas police and employees of the Game Warden’s Office searched the water and found the man’s body around 5 p.m. Saturday, but his son was still missing at that time.
The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man as 26-year-old Fernando Carlos.
Efforts to find the child continued until about 7 p.m. Saturday, when the search was paused as it got dark. A Dallas police dive team resumed searching on Sunday Oct. 6, and the boy’s body was found Sunday afternoon, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The man’s brother, Jose Carlos, told KTVT-TV that Fernando Carlos and his son, 6-year-old Noah, were on a fishing trip at Mountain Creek Lake when Noah fell in the water. Fernando Carlos jumped in and both were swept away by the strong current, the family said.
The family told KTVT that Fernando Carlos worked as a roofing company manager and leaves behind two daughters, who are 9 and 5 years old.
Noah “slipped into the water and like any Father would, Fernando jumped into action without hesitation,” the family wrote on a GoFundMe page. “Our other brother that was with him tried to save them but the water current was too strong and washed them away. His brothers did everything in their power to save them but unfortunately they disappeared in the water before their eyes.”
Fernando “died as a HERO, and was an AMAZING DAD, BROTHER, SON, and UNCLE,” the family wrote. “He was his mother’s and children soul provider. NOAH was SO SILLY, HANDSOME, LOVED MUSIC, LOVED TO DANCE, and HE LOVED FORTNITE.”
This story was originally published October 6, 2024 at 12:22 PM.
