Bethel Park Woman Drowns Trying To Help Son In Lake Erie
BETHEL PARK (KDKA) -- A local woman has died after an attempted water rescue on Lake Erie.
The victim, Kristen Stefan, 37, of Bethel Park, drowned while trying to save her son, Tyler.
It happened off the shore of West Haven Beach, near Westfield, N.Y.
Police say the 9-year-old boy and an 8-year-old friend were on an inner-tube when strong waves swept them away.
Stefan dove into the water to grab her son.
The three of them were pushed east to a cove in the rocky cliff shoreline. They were able to climb to safety, but Tyler fell back into the water. Stefan dove into the water after her son and vanished under the water.
Tyler drifted east and was 200 yards from shore when Matt Ward, a Shore Haven resident, swam out and brought him to shore.
"I saw him down at the other end, and he was down there and everyone else is in pants and jeans and I said, 'I'm a lifeguard and I'm going in.' I just went for it," Ward said.
Stefan was pulled from the water and rushed to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Her son is being treated for hypothermia. He and his friend are expected to be okay.
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