By David K. Li -
NBC News
An Illinois man has died after jumping into a frozen pond to save his daughter, authorities said Tuesday.
Two sisters, ages 8 and 10, were walking their six dogs Saturday morning near Charleston, which is about 100 miles east of Springfield,
when two of their puppies got loose from their leashes
.
The older girl ran to the frozen pond to get them out, according to family members.
When Ma'Lyiah White fell into the icy waters, the girls were close enough to her home that their screams could be heard.
Hearing them call for help,
Carlos Serafin, 31, immediately ran to the pond and fell into the water.
Carlos Serafin (left), 31 years old;
Bill Croy, 47, and his daughters Ma'Lyiah White, 10, and Bailey Croy, 8.GoFundMe via NBC News
Serafin didn't think twice about putting his own life on the line, said the victim's husband, Bill Croy.
Both were the legal guardians of the girls, who are biological daughters of Croy's eldest adoptive daughter.
"He didn't think about it, he just did things, and he showed it to his last breath," Croy told our sister network NBC News on Tuesday.
The family
tried to use a long dog leash
to throw it at Serafin, but he was unable to reach it.
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"I threw it at him and he said, 'I can't see anymore, I can't see, Bill!'" Croy, 47, said through tears.
"I could see her sinking and I couldn't reach her."
The family called 911. Rescuers from the Lincoln Fire Protection District and Charleston Fire Department extricated the girl and man at 8:06 a.m. and 8:15 a.m., respectively, and took them to the hospital, according to authorities.
Serafín died there and the girl is still in critical condition
, as reported by authorities and relatives.
One of the family's dogs, named Horchata, also died when the ice broke up.
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The serene setting of a frozen pond belies dangers: Ice can easily crack, said Charleston Fire Chief Steve Bennett.
"People, unless they're experienced or trained, don't really think about it. They just look at the ice and think, 'Oh, it's thick enough,'" Bennett said. "A good rule of thumb is if it's less than four inches, you should probably stay away from him."
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Serafin, a former restaurant manager and family man, was lying in bed when he heard the commotion and immediately
put on his sandals to run toward danger
, relatives said.
"That's what made him Carlos. He was very spontaneous in life," said Amanda Beals, Croy's sister and the girls' great-aunt.
"He really showed it, to his last breath. He didn't have a care in the world. He just wanted to take care of others."
