Bodies Identified, Search Still Underway For Missing Man

APOLLO BEACH, FL — The bodies of a father and son who drowned in the Apollo Beach area Friday night are 37-year-old Janosh Purackal and Danial Purackal, 3, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Search and rescue crews are still searching for the Good Samaritan, Kristoff Murray, who tried to rescue the father and son.

Original Patch Story:

A father and his 3-year-old son died from drowning Friday night when a current swept them away at the Apollo Beach Nature Preserve, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said.

The incident happened just before 7:30 p.m., according to investigators. A Good Samaritan, 27-year-old, Kristoff Murray, jumped in to save them, but was also swept away. The father was later found dead at 9 p.m. by the search and rescue teams, which included the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office's aviation and marine teams along with the Hillsborough Fire Rescue and U.S. Coast Guard. The 3-year-old son was found a few minutes later, and he was taken to a local hospital where he later died.

Search and rescue efforts have continued through the night into Saturday for Murray.

"Our hearts break for the father and son who lost their lives tonight," Sheriff Chad Chronister said. "The horrible sight led a selfless stranger to sacrifice his own life, in an attempt to save them. As we aggressively search these waters to try and locate this individual, we are urging everyone to remember that water safety is paramount."

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