An Illinois man died trying to rescue a ten-year-old girl who fell through a frozen pond when she tried to save her dogs.
Carlos Serafin, 31, and his husband of six years Bill Croy, 47, the legal guardians of sisters Ma'Liyah White and Bailey, 8, had all been out walking together in Charleston with the family's three dogs on Saturday morning.
Shortly before 8am, the dogs had fallen through the ice of a frozen pond - and Ma'Liyah ran after them to try and save them.
Serafin showed no hesitation before jumping into the icy pond to rescue Ma'Liyah White, the girl's aunt, Amanda Beals told DailyMail.com.
Both Serafin and Ma'Liyah White were eventually pulled from the water by Lincoln District firefighters and dive crew, but Serafin was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital.
Ma'Liyah was airlifted to Carle Foundation Hospital, where she remains in critical condition.
She has not shown brain activity but Beals, said she remains hopeful Ma'Liyah will recover as her lungs have shown slight signs of improvement.
'Our families want everyone to know that Carlos died a hero. He was a very spontaneous person and never thought twice about anything,' Beals told DailyMail.com Monday.
Carlos Serafin (left) died trying to rescue 10-year-old Ma'Liyah White (center left) after she fell through a frozen pond when she tried to save three family dogs. Serafin and his husband Bill Croy (center right) have had guardianship of Ma'Liyah and her sister Bailey, 8, (right) for five years
'Our families want everyone to know that Carlos died a hero. He was a very spontaneous person and never thought twice about anything,' Croy's sister Amanda Beals, said. Croy and Serafin had been married for six years
Shortly before 8am, the dogs had fallen through the ice of a frozen pond in Charleston, Illinois, - and Ma'Liyah White ran after them to try and save them
'And it showed
