WMBFNews.com | Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC | News, Weather, SportsFather dies while trying to save son

Father dies while trying to save son

PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC (WMBF) - A family continues to mourn the loss of a Myrtle Beach man who died while trying to rescue his son in Pawleys Island Thursday afternoon.

Robert Beebe, spokesman for Midway Fire Rescue says the father was fishing in the surf when his son was hit by a wave and pulled under water. The man went in after his son and saved him, but was pulled back under the water.

The man, identified as Salomon Sifontes by Georgetown County Coroner Kenny Johnosn, was able to save his son, but in the end, lost his own life.

The reality of what happened on Thursday still hasn't hit 7-year-old Darwin, who says he remembers seeing his father in those final moments.

"My dad tried to help me, and we were like going really far away, and he couldn't breathe anymore and he drowned and he was floating with his mouth in the water," he recalled.

Sifontes's brother, Moises Sifontes, says he couldn't believe the news when he first heard.

"They were together all the time. When he sees the picture, he starts crying, and says 'I want my daddy,'" explained Moises.

Moises says his brother did the right thing by saving his son.

"We are hurt, but we are glad [Darwin] is alive," said Moises.

The Sifontes family says they would like to send Salomon's body back to his home country of Honduras, but so far, do not have enough money to do so.

The father, rescuers estimate, was underwater for 30 minutes before he was brought ashore. 

An autopsy Friday confirmed Sifontes died as a result of drowning.

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