Heartbroken Deer Park family says their loved one died on vacation trying to save others
News 12's Thema Ponton speaks with Deer Park family grappling with grief after they say their loved one died on vacation trying to save others.
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The family of Jamie Lambros, 48, of Deer Park, says he died last week while on vacation in Bermuda, trying to save other people's lives.
"All of the sudden my sister-in-law came running. 'Phyllis, Phyllis, it's an emergency, emergency,' so I ran as fast as I could." said Phyllis Gasparri, Lambros' mother.
Gasparri and her sons, Jamie's brother's, Jason Papalexandrou and Joey Pappas, tell News 12 that Jamie drowned after going into what they say were choppy seas at Horseshoe Bay beach while on a family cruise vacation.
They say Jamie and his cousin went to help save struggling swimmers, including a 10-year-old boy and his mother.
Lambros' family says the people he went in to save got out, but Jamie didn't survive.
Jamie's family believes there should have been warnings about the conditions in the ocean and they are angry about what they say were no lifeguards on the beach.
They are sharing the story about Jamie's death in the hopes of sparking change.
"So this never happens to any other family because I know Jamie would never want this to happen to any other family." said Pappas.
"The bottom line is there should be lifeguards there." said Papalexandrou.
Jamie's family tells News 12 they'd like to see more safety measures at Horseshoe Bay beach, like lifeguards or rescue Jet Skis.
The family has also set up a fundraiser to help with funeral cost.
