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Somehow, just before 7 p.m., Laurent ended up in the water, too far from shore, and got caught up in the current.

Lumahang went in after the boy, and another bystander, a 24-year-old man not with their group, also jumped into the frigid water. The man was able to pull Laurent to shore but when he turned back to help Lumahang, he was gone, Peralta said.

“I owe him my son’s second life,” Peralta told the Citizen on Sunday. “For me, he’s a hero.”

The boy was treated for mild hypothermia by paramedics.

Police, firefighters and paramedics from both sides of the river searched for Lumahang until darkness fell; then the Ottawa police Marine, Dive and Trail unit took over the search, which continued all night.

Lumahang’s family, including his mother, Aquilina Tremblay, came to the island and stayed until after 2 a.m.

Photo by Mike Carroccetto / Ottawa Citizen

Early Sunday morning, police divers using sonar discovered “something unusual” on the bottom of the river. A body was recovered about 90 metres from the beach on the island at 6:25 a.m.

The family returned to the island where they received the horrible news.

Lumahang’s stepfather, Michael Tremblay, said he will remember him as a hero.

“He gave his life for another life,” Tremblay said. “He was always helpful. He was always there to help anyone.”

Lumahang’s mother said her son, who was born in Manila, had taken some swimming lessons.

“He knows how to swim a little bit but I have a feeling he was exhausted last night and the water was strong,” she said. “He wasn’t an expert.”

The family emigrated from the Philippines to Canada more than 20 years ago. Lumahang worked as a cleaner in Ottawa. He had a half-sister who lives in the Philippines.

He had met with wife, Eva Soque, through the Assumption Church in Vanier. The couple married there in 2009 and Lumahung became stepfather to Soque’s daughter, who is currently in the Philippines.

Soque, a caregiver, said her husband loved children and helping other people.

“He was my hero,” she said.

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Photo by Mike Carroccetto / Ottawa Citizen

Photo by Mike Carroccetto / Ottawa Citizen

Photo by Mike Carroccetto / Ottawa Citizen

Photo by Mike Carroccetto / Ottawa Citizen

Photo by Google Maps / Ottawa Citizen

Photo by Mike Carroccetto / Ottawa Citizen

With files from Kirstin Endemann and Andrew Nguyen