PICTURED: Houston Father DIES While Trying To Save Young Son IDENTIFIED

Rufino Suarez has been identified as the Houston, Texas man who died while trying to save his 5-year-old son from drowning at San Luis Pass.

According to family members, Suarez, 27, his son and five other people, were in a kayak around 7 p.m. Tuesday. Two of the three children were not wearing life jackets, the family said.

The family told investigators that the kayak tipped over and everyone except Suarez and his son swam to shore. Several minutes later, the child washed ashore. He was unresponsive. Someone at the scene cleared the child’s airway and got him to breathe. About 10 to 20 minutes after the boy was found, his father’s body floated up on a sandbar, officials said. source

The boy was flown to UTMB hospital. He was listed in critical condition.

Investigators said the area where Suarez drowned is a no-swimming area.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends at this difficult time.