Story at a glance
- Kristoff Murray jumped into the water at Apollo Beach Nature Preserve when he witnessed a man and young child struggling in the water.
- All three were caught in a strong current.
- Janosh Purackal, 37, and 3-year-old Daniel Purackal both died in the incident.
Authorities are continuing to search for a man who swam out to sea in an effort to save a father and young child as they were swept away in a strong current near Tampa, Fla., on Friday evening.
Fox 13 reports crews are still searching for 27-year-old Kristoff Murray near Apollo Beach Nature Preserve, nestled along Tampa Bay approximately 17 miles south of Tampa.
READ MORE STORIES FROM CHANGING AMERICA
WOMAN PUNCHES CROCODILE TO SAVE HER TWIN SISTER
NEW STUDY NAMES THE 10 SMELLIEST STATES IN THE US
CICADAS OVERRUN WHITE HOUSE PRESS PLANE
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC ANNOUNCES EARTH HAS A FIFTH OCEAN
FORD UNVEILS NEW HYBRID PICKUP THAT GETS 40 MPG FOR UNDER $20,000
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said Murray “immediately, without hesitation,” jumped into the water after seeing an adult and child struggling in the water, but he was caught by the current as well.
“We are certainly calling him now, not just a good Samaritan, but our Apollo Beach hero,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said during a Friday news conference.
Crews began searching for the three individuals following reports of missing swimmers. A boater later found the body of a deceased man around 9 p.m. The child was found minutes later and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he passed away. Fox 13 identified the two as Janosh Purackal, 37, and 3-year-old Daniel Purackal.
The search for Murray has continued over the past few days, but crews have yet to find any sign of him.
More than 100 people are killed annually by rip currents in the U.S., according to the U.S. Lifesaving Association.
READ MORE STORIES FROM CHANGING AMERICA
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 3,000 YEARS, TASMANIAN DEVILS HAVE BEEN BORN ON AUSTRALIAN MAINLAND
‘EXTINCT’ GIANT TORTOISE FOUND IN GALAPAGOS
CONSERVATIONISTS THRILLED AS ‘EXTINCT’ WILD RIVER PREDATOR POPS UP
KIA INTRODUCES NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLE THAT CAN CHARGE IN LESS THAN 20 MINUTES
CHERNOBYL IS SHOWING SIGNS OF A POSSIBLE NEW NUCLEAR ACCIDENT, SCIENTISTS SAY
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
