Man Who Died While Kayaking Near Rio Vista Helped Save Daughter, 5, Authorities Say

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CA -- A San Francisco man who drowned while kayaking Sunday near the eastern Solano County city of Rio Vista helped save his young daughter's life, authorities say.

The man, who was identified Monday by the Sacramento County coroner's office as 40-year-old Roni Avila Alvarado, was kayaking with his 5-year-old daughter in Three Mile Slough, part of the Brannan Island State
Recreation Area, when their kayak overturned, according to Sacramento County sheriff's Sgt. Tony Turnbull.

Witnesses of the incident called 911 about 2:30 p.m. Sunday. They told authorities that both Alvarado and the girl went under initially, but he surfaced with his daughter and held her above the water.

Although a good Samaritan on a jet ski was able to grab the daughter and bring her back to shore, Alvarado went back underwater and did not resurface, authorities say.

A search was conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard and Solano County and Sacramento County units. Divers located and recovered Alvarado's body a little after 11 p.m. Sunday.

Neither the father nor the daughter were wearing life jackets, according to Sacramento County sheriff's officials.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

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