California

‘Heroic young man’ saves 7-year-old from drowning at California lake

Lazaro Perez saved a 7-year-old boy from drowning at Lake Nacimiento on Aug. 18, 2024.
Lazaro Perez saved a 7-year-old boy from drowning at Lake Nacimiento on Aug. 18, 2024.

A 7-year-old drowning in Lake Nacimiento had an unlikely hero over the weekend: Another child.

Lazaro Perez saw a 7-year-old boy fall off a tube near the shoreline Sunday while he was visiting Lake Nacimiento Resort with his family, the Monterey County Park Rangers Association said in a Facebook post.

The child was not wearing a life jacket and sunk under the water.

Perez “immediately jumped into action” when the child didn’t resurface, the agency said. Perez swam out to the child, located him and then brought him to the shoreline.

Monterey County Park Rangers Association

The boy was evaluated by Monterey County Park rangers, Cal Fire Station 33, and San Luis Ambulance and was later transported by family members to a local hospital for further medical treatment, the organization said.

The association could not confirm Perez’s age.

“Thank you, Lazaro, you truly saved the day!” the Monterey County Park Rangers Association said in the post, calling him a “heroic young man.”

This story was originally published August 19, 2024 at 11:14 AM with the headline "‘Heroic young man’ saves 7-year-old from drowning at California lake."

Chloe Jones
The Tribune
Chloe Jones is a former journalist for The Tribune
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