A father's sacrifice: Saving his son, losing his life and the heartbreaking choice left behind
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Two decisions face a devastated family weeks after their patriarch made the ultimate sacrifice.The family of 55-year-old Juan Andrade is weighing where to bury their beloved husband and father after he died saving his son on April 14 at the lake in Lincoln Park.And they’re also trying to figure out how to move forward without him.Juan, a handyman and cook, dove into the lake to rescue his 14-year-old autistic son, Kevin.
The teen waded into the water while his father was on the phone with his brother in Michoacán, Mexico, according to Juan’s wife, Michelle.Juan kept his son afloat long enough for a bystander to pull Kevin from the water relatively unharmed, Michelle, 44, said.However, the boy’s father never resurfaced, with his wife believing he became trapped on the lake’s fountain.Rescuers pulled his body from the water after half an hour and rushed him to Los Angeles General Medical Center, where Michelle works on the overnight cleaning crew.“They told me to wait for him in a room where most visitors are told their family members are dead or badly hurt,” Michelle said.
“That’s when I knew he died.”Her husband was declared deceased at the hospital, according to the County of Los Angeles medical examiner.California The Long Beach Fire Department said that crews responded to an incident involving four individuals and a dog who were in the L.A.
River.The cause and manner of death are still under investigation, labeled as “deferred,” the medical examiner’s office said.That generally means the department is requesting additional testing or studies.Deferred cases can take a few months.“We are devastated because he meant everything to us,” Michelle said.
“He was a good father, a good husband and always showed he loved us.”The family is hosting a private viewing on Tuesday.They are not disclosing the location or time, wanting to keep the memorial...