Arkansas Man Drowns While Trying Save Child In Le Flore County

The Le Flore County Sheriff's Office says an Arkansas father drowned in an Oklahoma lake while trying to save his child on Friday.

Deputies say it happened on Long lake about two miles south of Poteau. They say a 3-year old child fell overboard and 45-year-old Marlon Alexander Garcia jumped in to try to save them. Oklahoma Highway Patrol says a 16-year-old on the boat was then able to help get the child back on the boat but Garcia went under and never resurfaced.

Troopers say the child was taken to the hospital for water inhalation.