Father Who Died Trying To Save Daughter Identified: Marina

MONTEREY COUNTY, CA — The name of a man who died Christmas Eve trying to save his 10-year-old daughter in the ocean surf was released Thursday.

Paul Lewis, 53, of Marina, died Tuesday at a hospital after he was rescued from the water off Carmel River State Beach at 26478 Carmelo St.

Rescuers responded at 12:30 p.m. after Lewis went into the water to stop his daughter, who was on an inflatable device, from floating out to sea, according to Cal Fire.

When rescuers arrived, they got reports that a father and daughter were struggling in the water and subsequently rescued them.

Lewis's daughter was taken to the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula with possible hypothermia symptoms, Cal Fire officials said. There was no word on her condition Thursday.

—Bay City News contributed to this report.