Heroic Florida teen who jumped into rough currents to save drowning mother and her 9-year-old son passes away
A Florida teenager who was hailed a hero after he jumped into powerful rip currents to save a mom and her son from drowning died this past Wednesday, October 2, his heartbroken family has confirmed.
Elvia Venegas was teaching her nine-year-old son to swim in Virginia Key on Monday when the strong top current started pulling them under, according to CBS Miami. Realizing that their lives were at risk, 17-year-old Cristian Burgos jumped into the water without a second thought to save them.
Thanks to Burgos' intervention, Venegas and her son made it out safely, but the teen wasn't so lucky. He was caught in the rough currents himself, and was only pulled out after a bystander called 911 for help. But by the time first responders rescued him, he was unconscious and not breathing, with CPR failing to have any effect. He was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he remained in a coma and was taken off life support on Wednesday.
The family confirmed his death on a GoFundMe page set up to raise donations to cover the cost of his medical expenses and his funeral.
"Our little hero has passed away less than 10 minutes ago," they wrote. "We want to thank you all who have been praying for his supernatural recovery. Thank you all who have been donating to help his mother, from the bottom of our hearts. We ask you to keep us the family, specially his mother in your prayers. God bless you all."
Venegas knows she and her son owe their life to Burgos. "If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be alive right now," she said. "I am just eternally grateful at this moment. That’s all I can say right now."
The teen's mother, Maria Del Carmen Avenado, similarly paid tribute to her son. "He’s the best son," she told CBS Miami. "He’s the most beautiful person I have had. He is a hero. I am happy and I am sad because I wish this had not happened to him."
In an earlier statement, Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho called his actions "heroic and inspirational" and said, "This was a selfless act of heroism and he should be recognized in our community and we should join in prayers for this remarkable young man. I had a chance to pray at the hospital with both the mother of the boy who is fighting for his life as well as the mother and the 9-year-old boy who were saved."