Search continues for missing man who jumped in Canyon Lake to save his daughter
Comal County fire chief Robert Mikel said Berlingeri went underwater but never came back up and was reported missing just before 8 p.m. According to a post from his sister, Sabrina Berlingeri, her brother was out on the boat when he and his 2-year-old daughter fell off.
Priscilla Jud, the mother of the toddler, also posted about the incident on Facebook, adding how Robbie Berlingeri “gave the ultimate sacrifice for his daughter and me.” Jud wrote that she jumped in the water to save them and how both of them almost drowned to keep the baby alive.
“Everything happened too fast,” she wrote. “I’ve never experienced that level of fear or panic. I was watching both of us drown and I couldn’t save us. Rob fought so hard for us and gave his life to be sure we lived. He is and will always be my hero.”
People on another boat rescued the toddler and her mother, but when they went to get Robbie Berlingeri, he was gone, his family wrote on Facebook.
Officials believe that the man has drowned and are trying to search for the body. Texas Parks and Wildlife is now leading the search, according to Mikel. A Texas Parks and Wildlife spokesperson said game wardens are using side-scan sonar, and a dive team is on standby to search on Tuesday, July 5.
