03 August 2023 , 07:11
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A dad-of-four has been killed in a jet ski accident on a family holiday on his first trip to the picturesque Lake Tahoe on a family holiday.
Bill Siu, 37, from California, decided to try riding a jet ski on the calm waters of the lake when strong winds and violent waves suddenly knocked him and his wife, Alexie Rae Siu, off.
"The water took us under, and we were just trying to get to each other," Alexie said, "I was just telling him be calm, stay calm, keep your head above the water."
Separated from each other, Alexie immediately swam towards Bill, who was seen panicking in the water. Despite the rapid response from emergency authorities, Bill was found unresponsive.
He was taken to a hospital in Sand Harbor, Nevada, where he was later pronounced dead due to accidental drowning on July 27 according to a press release from the Washoe County Sheriff's Office.
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Bill Siu drowned on his first trip to Lake Tahoe with his family after being knocked off a jet ski by strong winds (Bill Siu/Facebook)Friends and family described Bill Siu as a loving husband and a dedicated father to children Kanoah, Melana, Ziggy and Rico.A GoFundMe page set up on behalf of his wife to pay for funeral costs.
Alexie, shared heartfelt memories of Bill's vibrant personality and interests. He loved taking his family on trips to explore new places and was passionate about learning new skills and sports.
It reads: "His life and light was his wife and children. Bill loved to take his family to Disneyland, a master navigator of the park, committed to bringing the magic back home for his kids, long after leaving the park. For anyone, really... This unexpected and devastating loss has left his family stunned."
A GoFundMe page was set up to support his wife and family with the expenses (Bill Siu/Facebook)Bill's involvement in sports extended to coaching the Clayton Valley Eagles, where his son, Kanoah, played. The team won the league's championship in 2022, thanks in part to Bill's coaching. Additionally, he was a coach at P2P Transformation Center in Concord.
The Clayton Valley Athletic Association paid tribute to Bill on their Instagram account. It read: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Pee Wee Coach Bill’s family during this difficult time. Rest In Peace."
"His biggest passion was coaching," Alexie said. "He loved transforming people’s lives and being a part of their journey and encouraging them."