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Friends and family repeat prayers and bible verses for Victor Mozqueda. Photo by Mauricio La Plante/KHTS Radio.

Vigil Held For Man Who Died Saving Boy From Drowning In Sequoia National Park

Family and friends lined up to place candles Monday around a vigil for Victor Mozqueda, a Santa Clarita man who died saving a 5-year-old boy from drowning.


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Both the old and young stood before Mozqueda’s altar to remember the 22-year-old’s life and ultimate sacrifice. Some dabbed tears away from their eyes, while others comforted fellow friends and family.

“We just wanted everyone to know what he did,” said Ivan Gonzalez, Mozqueda’s brother in law. “My nephew survived, and I will be forever grateful to him.”

During a family trip to Sequoia National Park, Gonzalez’s nephew, Vincent, slipped off of a rock into the Kaweah River. Soon after, Mozqueda jumped in to save him.

Previous Story: Santa Clarita Man Dies Saving Drowning Boy From River In Sequoia National Park

Somehow Mozqueda was able to keep Vincent afloat, throwing him out of the water before the current carried him away.

“The last thing he did was push Vincent out,” said Gonzalez. “The only reason my nephew is alive is because of Victor.”

The dozens who showed up lost more than a saviour; they lost a friend, said his father, Humberto Mozqueda.

“He said that he’s very happy that so many people are showing up, and he’s not surprised that a lot of his friends, family members and the community is here to support him,” said Gonzalez, translating the elder Mozqueda’s Spanish.

“It feels like a dream, and I can’t reach him,” said Mozqueda in Spanish.

This is the second fatality on the Kaweah River in recent weeks, authorities with Sequoia National Park said.

“In both cases, the family members who jumped in after the children did not survive,” Sequoia District Ranger Dave Fox said in a statement. “The rocks are super slick on the river’s edge, and people should avoid getting close to the water.”

Mozqueda’s family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with expenses the family has to cover in the wake of Victor’s death.

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Vigil Held For Man Who Died Saving Boy From Drowning In Sequoia National Park

2 comments

  1. Why are kids being aloud to climb the rocks here? They are clearly covered in ailge!Rigid and stacked by nature? Many deaths here over the yrs and mostly kids unattended climbing on dangerous rocks or ppl diving thinking water is deep in that spot and breaking their neck! Water safety should be taught in school across the world apparently!

    • Misty, it’s common sense to not play on slippery rocks but people do it anyways. Especially at places where they think nothing bad will happen to them, they take chances and pay the ultimate price with their death. I would say that it’s the parents responsibility to teach water safety and keep an eye on their kids and not having schools be responsible for teaching them these skills. I would also say if your own kid falls in the rushing river that the parent jump in and save him, not some stranger. Maybe that would be better prevention if parents risk their own lives for their own kids.

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About Mauricio La Plante

Mauricio La Plante is a staff writer and photographer at KHTS. He started writing news stories at the Saugus Scroll at Saugus High School in 2014, and came to KHTS Radio in Jan. 2017. La Plante studies multimedia journalism at College of the Canyons, and is often reporting at breaking news scenes and local events. For any tips email him at mslaplante19@gmail.com or message him through twitter or facebook @mslaplantenews.