WHITEWATER – (INT) – Drowning is suspected in the deaths of a San Bernardino father and his 7-year-old son.

The coroner says that David Martinez-Garcia, 41, lost his life when he entered the rapids of the Whitewater River on Labor Day. He was attempting to rescue young David Martinez who’d fallen into the river. Both were swept downstream about a mile.

The father was declared dead south of where the river flows beneath Interstate 10. The young boy was taken to the Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs. He could not be revived and died about two hours after the incident.

Several people have drowned under similar circumstances while wading in the river’s swift currents. The Whitewater River flows year-round out of the mountains into the Coachella Valley. The water flow of the river fluctuates and can reach 700 cubic feet per second.

Authorities noted that the area is marked with “No Trespassing” signs.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said the drownings appeared to be accidental.

Story Date: September 7, 2018