Man who couldn’t swim sacrificed himself to save drowning boy, five

A MAN who couldn't swim sacrificed his own life to save a boy from drowning, it has emerged.

Victor Mozqueda, 22, rescued five year old Vincent Gonzalez from drowning at the Sequoia National Park in the Sierra Nevada mountains, California, on Saturday.

Victor, from Santa Clarita, California, was on a visit to the park with his family when the incident happened.

The family were walking alongside the slippery river bank when five-year-old Vincent fell in.

And even though Victor couldn't swim, "he was the first one to jump in" to save the little boy, Vincent's uncle Ivan Gonzalez said, adding the young boy's parents also jumped in.

"It was about four or five people in the water trying to reach them. A fisherman and a marine also jumped in." he explained.

But the currents were too strong, and both Victor and Vincent went under several times, trying to escape the rushing water.

However, Vincent's uncle said Victor never let go of the child, saying: "Vincent held on to Victor's neck."

Heroically, Victor managed to push the little boy towards his parents just before he went under a final time.

Bystanders on the scene gave the boy CPR, and he was taken by air ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he is now recovering.

Rescuer's recovered Victor's body two hours later, and now his family have remembered him as a "happy, humble" person.

"Victor was a happy person, humble caring, loving, respectful, laid back and friendly. He loved going out doors and being next to nature." Maria Mozqueda, Victor's.