Coroner IDs Father Who Drowned Saving Son's Life At Lake Perris

PERRIS, CA — A father died while saving his son's life after a kayak capsized over the weekend at Lake Perris State Recreation Area in Riverside County.

California State Parks peace officers responded around 4:15 p.m. Saturday to reports of screaming and individuals in distress in the water near Moreno Beach.

A man and his 7-year-old son had been kayaking offshore when their kayak capsized. According to California State Parks, neither of them were wearing a life jacket, but there was one on the vessel.

State park peace officers arrived on scene via patrol vessel and recovered the man, who was unconscious and partially submerged. The boy was in distress but conscious and holding his father, helping to keep himself above water, according to California State Parks.

"Investigators noted that the father heroically kept his son afloat throughout the ordeal, supporting him until rescue personnel arrived," California State Parks officials said in a news release.

Officers pulled both the father and son from the lake and immediately began CPR on the father. Paramedics arrived and took both to Riverside University Health System, where the father was pronounced dead. The 7-year-old was being evaluated.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department Coroner's Bureau on Monday identified the father as Hadi Ahmadi, a 55-year-old Corona resident.

"California State Parks extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this tragedy," officials said.

The incident remained under investigation by California State Parks law enforcement and the Riverside County Sheriff Coroner's Office.