Heroic teen dies after saving mum and child from drowning
A 17-year-old boy has died after he tried to save a mother and her child from drowning.
The high school student has been identified as Cristian Burgos, from Miami in the US state of Florida, NBC News reports.
A 25-year-old mother was teaching her nine-year-old son how to swim on September 30 when they were swept out to sea.
Cristian leapt into action but tragically got caught in the currents during the rescue attempt while the mother and son made it out.
When Cristian was pulled out of the water, he was unconscious and not breathing. When paramedics arrived on the scene they began CPR and he was transported to the Jackson Memorial Hospital.
He was in a coma since the incident, until he died on Wednesday, NBC reports.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Cristian’s single mother, who told Telemundo 51 she was proud of her son’s actions.
“He risked his life to save another life,” Carmen Avendaño said.
The GoFundMe page says Cristian’s family did not have the funds to pay for his hospital bill.
The fundraiser was set up when Cristian was still in a coma and states the doctors said he had 98 per cent chance of not making it.
“We are praying to God for something miraculous to happen,” the page said.
”Anything you can help us with will be greatly appreciated! Everything will be to pay for all medical expenses.”
The GoFundMe has raised over $40,000.
“We can’t thank you enough, Cristian’s mother is very grateful,” an update on the page said after it was announced Cristian had died.
The page went on to say Cristian’s mother was hopeful her husband, Cristian’s father, Misael, will come from Nicaragua to support her.
“Misael is the only one who can truly relate to this great loss,” the page says.
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