The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
‘Such a positive inspiration’
Family and friends recall father who died trying to rescue kids
Alejandrina Contreras said her son would often call her — even for no particular reason.
“He was very loving,” the Norwalk woman said Wednesday, speaking through her daughter, Paola Garcia. “He would call me 10 times a day, just to check on me.”
It was that type of attitude that sprung Victor Garcia, 26, into action when his young son and his cousin had trouble swimming on Labor Day at Candlewood Shore Community Beach in New Milford.
Police said Garcia died trying to save them.
“My nephew and my cousin were swimming together, and all of a sudden, they couldn’t feel the ground anymore,” said Paola Garcia, 24, of Norwalk. “My nephew started calling out my brother’s name and asking him to come in to help them.”
Paola Garcia said her brother was standing at the side of the water, but went in when he heard his son, Lucas, 7. Victor Garcia’s 14-year-old cousin was also struggling in the water.
Paola Garcia said her brother was a good swimmer, but “I think he might have panicked seeing my nephew struggling.”
The Garcias were visiting relatives who live in the Candlewood Lake community. It was the Norwalk family’s first time there, Paola Garcia said.
New Milford police, who originally reported the children’s ages as 6 and 10, said they were brought safely to shore by a family member. Police said a family member also pulled Victor Garcia from the water. Officers performed CPR until paramedics arrived. Garcia was rushed to New Milford Hospital, where police said he was later pronounced dead.
“He drowned trying to save his son,” Paola Garcia said Wednesday, adding her nephew “can
swim, but he’s not really strong at it.”
Paola Garcia said the children were released from the hospital on Tuesday and were “resting.”
She said her brother, who is also survived by his wife, Christina, was “a great father.”
“He was very outgoing. He liked to spend time with his family. They liked to play soccer, go to the beach and eat ice cream,” she said. “He would take my nephew hiking and take a lot of trips to Washington and Miami.”
The family has organized a fundraising campaign in Garcia’s name.
Michael Maldonado, 25, a childhood friend, said Garcia “would always make you laugh and feel better if you were down or hurt if you needed anything and he could help you. His words were like gold to me because he never steered me in the wrong direction.”
For more than eight years, Garcia worked as a fence installer at Gannon Rustic Fence in New Canaan.
“He was very important here,” said Tom Gannon, who owns the business.
“He was a team player and always thought of others,” Gannon said, choking up. “He will be sorely missed.”
Gannon’s son, Steven, said Garcia was his best friend. They met during their freshman year at Norwalk High School and worked together at the fencing company.
“We worked every day together,” said Steven Gannon, 26. “Every morning, he would have a huge smile on his face. The customers loved him. He was such a positive inspiration.”
He said Garcia was known at all the other shops around the business.
“He was always waving to them,” he said. “Everyone knew him by his first name.”
“I’m just shocked,” he added. Funeral arrangements are pending.