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October 1, 2008

Rusk man drowns helping others

By Kelly Young

kyoung@jacksonvilleprogress.com

A Rusk man drowned Sunday evening when the boat he and four others, including two children, were using capsized on a two-acre private pond.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department reported Jaime Rosales Sequeda, 34, was attempting to help his boat mates to safety when he disappeared under the surface.

The incident occurred about 7 p.m. Sunday, just off of Farm-to-Market Road 2962, between Rusk and Reklaw.

“The Sheriff’s Department received a report of a possible drowning at a private pond, and responding deputies met with witnesses who stated that five individuals had taken a small boat out to the middle of the pond,” said Chief Investigator Chris White. “When they realized that the boat was taking on water, they tried to head back to the shoreline. When they were between 50 to 100 feet from the shore, the boat capsized.”

None of the occupants of the boat were wearing a life vest, according to sheriff’s department reports.

In addition to Sequeda, the other occupants of the boat were a 26-year-old, an 18-year-old, a 15-year-old and an 8-year-old. Witnesses say Sequeda and the 26-year-old placed the other three passengers on top of the capsized boat and started swimming them, one-at-a-time, back to the shoreline.

When Sequeda dove back into the water to get the last child he never resurfaced. Efforts were made to search the area where he had last been seen, but they were unsuccessful in reaching him.

“The Rusk Fire Department and the Texas Game Wardens also responded to the scene, and the game wardens (dragged) the pond and were able to recover the body of Mr. Sequeda,” White said. “We are still awaiting autopsy results at this time. We know there is quite a bit of vegetation and tree stumps in that part of the pond, but it is unknown if he received a neck injury while diving or if he became entangled in the vegetation and drowned. It is a pretty sad deal.”

The three younger survivors were transported to the hospital for shock, where they were treated and released. Funeral arrangements are being handled through Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home in Rusk.

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