Boy and uncle drown in Hesperia aqueduct

VICTORVILLE, Calif. (KABC) -- A young boy and his uncle died late Thursday afternoon after drowning in an aqueduct in Hesperia, the California Highway Patrol said.

The CHP identified the two victims as 9-year-old Miguel Ortiz, Jr. and 48-year-old Fino Hernandez. They say Ortiz fell into the California Aqueduct as he was walking with his 6-year-old brother and Hernandez. That's when Hernandez jumped in to rescue the boy.

Meanwhile, Ortiz's younger brother ran along the aqueduct and managed to flag down a water worker, who called 911.

"We found both individuals in the aqueduct, they were rescued by the fire department and transported to Desert Valley Medical Center in critical condition," said CHP Officer William Osgueda.

Firefighters tried to revive the victims with CPR to no avail. The two were pronounced dead at the hospital in Victorville.

Ortiz's mother said both her child and his uncle did not know how to swim.

The CHP says while it's not off limits to walk near the aqueduct, they advise people to steer clear of the edge.

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