Man drowns trying to rescue daughters

Houston Police Dept. Lake Patrol searched the area near Atascocita Exit about one mile South of FM 1960 for the body of Jose Martinez

HUFFMAN – At about 8:30 p.m. on July 12, Jose Gilberto Martinez saw his young daughters start to drift away on their rubber raft in Lake Houston, according to witness accounts.

The girls were wearing life jackets but became distressed as the wind began to take their raft away from the proximity of their father, according to assessments of Houston Police Department’s Lake Patrol.

Mr. Martinez at that time began swimming out to the girls but went under the water, witnesses say.

The girls were rescued from a pier by a local woman that used pole to pulled them to safety.

“They called out to him, according to the lady, so he tried to swim out to them and just didnÕt have the strength to make it out to where they were at,” said Richard Robinson at the scene.

H.P.D. Lake Patrol Officers White and Fowler answered the call and began to search for Mr. Martinez. HPD Dive Teams arrived shortly thereafter and brought sonar equipment that would find the body of the 38 year old man at about 1:40 a.m. near the 100 block of the Atascocita Exit.

Martinez lived in Porter in the 16000 block of Live Oak Square Drive.

According to Officer Fowler, “It is important to know your limitations when you set out to swim.”