Stranger tries to save kids from drowning after car crashes into canal in Cape Coral

Update: The second child involved in the crash has also died.

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Original Story: At midnight Thursday, a car crashed into a canal in Cape Coral. A stranger jumped in to try to save the lives of two children trapped inside, but one of the children died at the hospital.

Tyler Ravert heard the crash. When he found out two children were inside, he knew he had to do something.

“I ran out my front door it had to have been 30 seconds. By the time I got to that canal they were already on the other side of the bank, the parents,” said Ravert. “And, once I got into the water I asked if there were any other people in the vehicle and they said yes two small children.”

The WINK News drone followed the path the car took to land in the canal.

Ravert said he could only see the roof of the car because the rest of the car was underwater. So, with those precious lives at stake, Ravert jumped in to help. Meanwhile, his wife was dialing 911.

“It’s what you do when you’re a father so it just kicks in,” said Ravert.

Tyler did his best but the windows were difficult to get open. “I tried to open the doors tried to break out a window until an officer got there with a baton and he broke out the window and we pulled out a child,” he said.

That child ended up dying at the hospital. Ravert says the kids must have been underwater for at least five minutes.

“Then, a diver showed up and was able to get the second child out,” Ravert said. “It’s devastating but I did what I could. And so did the officers and firefighters and EMTs.”

Tyler Ravert says he is absolutely devastated that the boy he tried to save didn’t make it.

Cape Coral Police say alcohol and/or drugs were a factor in that crash.

Ravert believes it’s the job of parents to set a good example. “They’re precious. That’s our world, our children. Set a good example!” he said.

Investigators inferred after reconstructing the crash that the car came down the road, drove through a patch of grass, left these orange paint streaks and landed in the canal.

The two adults were pulled from the car and taken to the hospital and will be OK. The second child is in the hospital currently fighting for his life.