'He was a hero': B.C. father of 4 dies trying to save boy at Fraser Valley lake
When one of Arnulf Salazar’s young sons began drifting into deeper water at Chehalis Lake in B.C.'s Fraser Valley, the 53-year-old didn’t hesitate.
His bravery was not at all surprising to his 18-year-old daughter, Zsalve.
“He didn't even think twice about saving Zac,” she said. “He was running.”
Salazar was at the lake on July 17 for a family picnic. The father of four from Surrey jumped in and managed to reach 10-year-old Zac, who is autistic and non-verbal.
“It was just like a slip of the moment where Zac just started to drift apart from us,” Zsalve said, and described how the lake abruptly gets deeper. “Little did we know, it was shallow, and it suddenly just had a drop.”
Nick McCleary, who was just wrapping up a camping trip at the lake with his own young son and friends, was packing up when he heard shouting near the shore.
“I saw quite a group of people yelling for help and pointing out to the water,” he said. “When I looked, I saw a man and a boy struggling.”
McCleary jumped into the water and swam out to the father and son.
“I told him to pass me the boy and I had a good hold of him. I told the man I had him and I would get him to shore,” he said. “It looked like he was OK, and I looked back a couple times.”
McCleary made it shore with the boy, but when he looked again, Salazar was no longer visible.
“I was just so out of breath, I couldn't go back anymore,” he said. “I really wish I could have done more. He was a father of four. I’m a dad myself.”
Salazar’s daughter said her father was eventually pulled from the water with the help of a diver who was on scene.
“He strapped himself with a rock so he could go down, and thankfully he got my dad out,” she said. “My family and myself, we were doing CPR on him for around an hour (and a half).”
At that point, Zsalve said emergency responders arrived at the remote location, but Salazar did not survive.
“He was a great father,” Zsalve said. “I looked up to him so much. He’s inspired me just to keep pushing forward and do the things I love.”
Salazar worked as a glazier, cutting and installing glass. His daughter said he could initially appear stern, but was really sweet, and very hardworking.
“We had no idea an incident could occur at all,” she said. “Advice would be, prepare for the worst. Because it is summer, it’s getting hot. Life vests.”
Along with his daughter Zsalve, Salazar has a 22-year-old son, and his son Zac has a twin brother who is also autistic. An online fundraiser has been collecting donations to help Salazar’s family.
“Words could never express how thankful I am for everyone supporting me and my family,” Zsalve said, and added she is also grateful to those who even just read what she had written about her father on the fundraising page. “He was a hero that was gone too soon.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
U.S. FAA launches investigation into unauthorized personnel in cockpit of Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto
The U.S.’s Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a video that appears to show unauthorized personnel in the cockpit of a charted Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto.