Man drowns after attempting to right overturned kayak

According to Pocono Mountain Regional Police, a man from Philadelphia drowned on Thanksgiving Day.

While kayaking in the area of Beaver Dam Road in Long Pond, 31-year-old Miguel Lopez entered the water to help a juvenile, who he was accompanying and who was wearing a lifejacket, after his kayak overturned.

After being unsuccessful in turning the kayak upright, Lopez, who was not wearing a lifejacket, was unable to stay above water as he and the juvenile swam back to shore.

Lopez’s body was recovered by search and rescue teams later in the day and he was pronounced deceased.

Pocono Mountain Regional was assisted by Coolbaugh Township Fire, Germania Fire, Lake Harmony Fire, Lake Winola Fire, Lehighton Fire, Mahanoy City Fire, Ryan Township Fire, Scott Township Fire, Tafton Fire, Thornhurst Fire, Tunkhannock Township Fire, Tunkhannock (Wyoming) Fire, Pocono Mountain Regional EMS, the Monroe County Office of Emergency Management and other Pennsylvania search and rescue teams.

"The loss of Miguel has devastated all of us to the core," Lopez's wife, Maria Munoz, wrote in a GoFundMe campaign. "This holiday season was supposed to be a time of celebration and instead we are mourning the loss of someone who would give you the shirt off his back."

As of Nov. 28, the campaign has raised $12,860, surpassing the listed goal of $10,000.

Max Augugliaro is the public safety and government watchdog reporter at the Pocono Record. Reach him at MAugugliaro@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Man kayaking in the Poconos drowns on Thanksgiving Day