Man who rescued 2 children from Great Egg Harbor River in Atlantic County has died

HAMILTON TWP., New Jersey (WPVI) -- A man who saved two children from drowning in the Great Egg Harbor River in Atlantic County, New Jersey has died.

He has been identified as Pablo Hernandez Cruz, 49, of Mays Landing.

"I talked to people on the shore, they said he just went under and threw the kids as far as he could and he never came up. He was a true hero," said Paul Horsey, who helped find Hernandez Cruz after he went under.

This incident happened at Weymouth Furnace County Park in Hamilton Township.

Authorities say two children went swimming there, which is prohibited. There are multiple signs posted in English and Spanish warning people not to swim.

The children started to experience some difficulty in the water, investigators say. That's when Hernandez Cruz reportedly went in to help them.

Hernandez Cruz was able to retrieve the children from the water and safely get them to shore, according to police.

However, Hernandez Cruz then went under the water. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but officials said Thursday morning he had passed away.

"Risking his life to save two innocent young kids," noted Jorge Fornia from Vineland.

Family members said he was not a good swimmer, having learned how to swim just recently.

His brother-in-law, Joe Pagiluca, said Hernandez Cruz was a hard worker, an amazing cook and the rock of the family.

He had two daughters. The oldest is pregnant with what would have been his first grandson, and his youngest daughter survived pediatric cancer.

They see Hernandez Cruz as a hero.

"Here's and ordinary man, living an ordinary life, who managed to save two children and allow them now to grow up and live full lives and hopefully have families,"said Pagliuca. "He sacrificed his own in the process.

There is a GoFundMe page to help his family.

This is the same park where authorities say a 23-year-old man drowned in June 2021.

County officials told Action News that many people don't realize how deep the water is, which makes it dangerous for anyone who swims there.

"It blows my mind. There are signs and people -- kids and adults -- who still don't obey the rules," said Fornia.