REEDLEY, Calif. — A man who tried to rescue three children from a rushing central California river has died. Emergency personnel responded Wednesday evening to reports of at least two victims in the Kings River near Reedley.

Crews rescued an 8-year-old girl. Two other children made it out of the river safely on their own.

A 28-year-old man who jumped in to help the children was missing after disappearing underwater. He was found downstream about an hour later and rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The man’s name was not immediately released.

The 8-year-old girl was hospitalized in critical condition.