A police officer has been hailed a hero after he died rescuing a child from a swollen stream.
The tragedy unfolded on Sunday (14 Sept) afternoon, when five kids were playing in the water.
Three managed to get out on their own, but two were carried away by the fast-moving water.
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Cop Kevin Pérez Vargas, who was nearby, heard their cries and immediately jumped in.
He successfully rescued one child, but was swept away along with the second while trying to save him.
A search was launched immediately, but heavy rains hampered efforts, as reported by Need To Know.
Kevin’s body was recovered the following afternoon downstream in a different neighbourhood.
He was still wearing his mud-soaked uniform.
He was pronounced dead at the scene in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
The search for 11-year-old Elvis Eliú Bautista Guillén, who was still missing at the time of reporting, continues.
The child Kevin saved is now receiving medical care at a local clinic.
Originally from La Cuesta in the Santa Bárbara region, Kevin worked as an inspector in the Traffic Accident Investigation Section.
The Honduran National Police described him as “a hero who gave his life to rescue two minors who were swept away by the current.”
The Ministry of Security called his actions “a supreme example of dedication, bravery, and service to children and Honduran society.”
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