MAYER – 3TV spoke exclusively to the father of the boy swept away by floodwaters after he received word that his son’s body had been recovered.
Hikers found 6-year-old Jacob’s body along a river bank in Yavapai County on Saturday afternoon. Rescue crews had been searching for the little boy’s body since it was swept away Thursday night.
Now the family is preparing to give the boy a proper burial.
His dad, David Baudek, says Jacob’s 8-year-old sister is having difficulty understanding what happened. He tells 3TV, “Her question is why I saved her and I couldn't save Jacob. That's her biggest thing right now, why was she saved but her brother wasn't.”
Jacob was swept away after his family’s pick-up truck became stuck in floodwaters near Mayer on Thursday night.
David and Katrina Baudek were trying to leave their home in the Chauncey Ranch area to take Jacob to the hospital because he was sick. The floodwaters at the Agua Fria River rose and swept the dad, daughter and son away. The mother was also able to swim to safety.
A Good Samaritan was able to throw David a rope while others in the area called emergency crews. David was able to get to ground with his daughter but Jacob was swept away.
If you would like to help the Baudek family, a bank account has been set up at Wells Fargo. The account number is 5944475937.
