José Higareda died attempting to help save Ivan D. Carpio from drowning, Norwalk, Connecticut, May 25, 2009. Ivan, 10, was wading along the bank of river-fed West Deering Pond when he lost his footing and was taken farther out and pulled downstream by a strong current. His father and a friend, Higareda, 20, landscaper, were fishing from the bank. They entered the pond and swam with and then across the current to reach Ivan. In water over their heads, the men submerged and resurfaced repeatedly as they pushed on Ivan. Higareda submerged a final time and did not resurface. Firefighters responded and recovered Ivan from the pond, his father having reached safety. They then found Higareda and returned him to the bank, where emergency medical service personnel worked to resuscitate him. Cold and tired, Ivan was taken to the hospital for treatment. Higareda could not be revived, as he had drowned.
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