A GoFundMe account has been set up to help a Newhall family pay funeral expenses for 22-year-old Victor Mozqueda, who drowned while saving a 5-year-old boy who fell into a rushing river in Sequoia National Park on Saturday.
Mozqueda was on a trip with family friends Anita Baker and Isasais Gonzalez and their 5-year-old son Vincent Gonzalez, Mozqueda’s brother-in-law Ivan Gonzalez told KTLA.
The boy was revived after his father and a fisherman performed CPR, but the body of his rescuer, who did not know how to swim, was found by local authorities two hours later.
A candlelight vigil is scheduled for Monday night at 22963 16th Street in Newhall 91321, starting at 8 p.m., according to a post on the GoFundMe page by Mozqueda’s sister, Maria Mozqueda, Sunday night. The public is invited to attend.
Here’s more of the story from the campaign page, created Saturday afternoon just hours after Mozqueda’s death:
“Victor (Mozqueda) tragically passed away (Saturday) morning trying to save Vincent Gonzalez (5 years old) that slipped into (the river in) the Sequoia National Park.
“He was the first to jump into the water to save Vincent even though he didn’t know how to swim.
“Vincent’s parents jumped into the water to save him as well but were unable to reach them as the currents were too strong.
“Somehow Victor managed to keep Vincent on top of his head even while he was underwater so that Vincent could breathe. He never let go of him even when they went down under the (currents) a few times.
“The last effort he did was to throw Vincent out of the strong (current) so that his father could barely grab him.
“The boy’s father tried getting Victor out while pushing Vincent but Victor went under the strong current after pushing Vincent out.
“We have no idea how (Victor) managed to not let go of Vincent to save his own life. He pushed him out before the current took him.
“He is Vicent’s Angel and a hero to all of us forever. We will forever be grateful for his courage, bravery and unselfish act. We will always miss you Victor and you will forever live in our hearts.
“Vincent was in critical condition and unresponsive for 4 hours after the helicopter took him. He woke up a few hours ago.”
Vincent Gonzalez, on the mend.
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35 Comments
Hero
Matt Moreno Katie Leslie Andrew Moreno that’s crazy ! I didn’t see anything happen around us
Probably in a different part of the park. Close to where the river is deeper and faster away from where we were
Matt Moreno oh right that’s so sad
Omg how ironic! That’s crazy ? I remember seeing a helicopter with a basket flying out of the park on Saturday evening. I wonder if that was it ?
Katie Leslie oh yeah prob
I’m so sorry to hear this. ? prayers for this family
Horrible ? Cesar Iglesias so so sad. Tiffany Murray LeeAnn Koscielny-Trevino
Wow, so sad and close to home ☹️☹️
so sad ?
❤️?
Awww, so sad. True hero. So sorry for his family. Sending prayers.
Awe ..bless him and his family ..RIP YOUNG MAN
He lived down the street from me Auntie, good kid, news crews were there where he lived last night.
Very sad ..nice kid and not in a gang ,going somewhere with his life ..very sad
He died a hero, but he deserved to live :(
So sad.
Hero, did what we all should instinctively do…
Bawling!!! Where’s the gofundme link for this angel?
It’s in the story — click on first mention of GoFundMe page.
https://www.gofundme.com/victormyhero
https://www.gofundme.com/victormyhero
VERY SAD
He’s a Hero may God bless his soul ?
??❤️❤️
God Bless His Beautiful Soul
Wow! He gave his young life so that another could have his. I’d seriously think about changing Vincent’s name to Victor, or perhaps adding it as a middle name.
This is heartbreaking. What a hero.
Hero
?
Victor was part of my home cleaning service crew. Very nice guy and very hard worker. True loss and very sad. I heard the news this morning when his sister Maria contacted me letting me know they would be unable to make it this week for out biweekly cleaning service. He is truly a hero a s he will be remembered.
Victor was a very hard worker and nice guy who helped clean my house every two weeks with his sister Maria and other family members. I received a text this morning from Maria stating she would be unable to make it to my house this week due to the incident with her brother. Very sad and a true loss. Victor will be remembered as a true hero and his family will be in our thoughts. This family has been a part of our family for the last two years.
so sad R I P sending prayers for his family
Victor is a hero!!!
A true remarkable man. And hero to his family.