A man is hospitalized after trying to rescue his sister from nearly drowning in the Jupiter Inlet

JUPITER, FL -- "I was scared. I felt like maybe I was gonna die and maybe my brother won't come back and that it would be my fault," 12-year-old Marely Lopez says.

She keeps replaying the incident in her mind, wishing she hadn't waded into the water in the Jupiter Inlet where she says she was sucked into a powerful whirlpool.

"The water started pulling me and I just couldn't anymore, I started yelling for help," Lopez explains.

Her sister wanted to help but couldn't.

Sandra Lopez says, "I realized she was drowning and I went to try to get her but I can't swim that well. We're just learning how to swim."

So, their uncle Raul jumped in, then their 23-year-old brother, Herman.

That's when the disaster doubled.

Raul Lopez explains, "When he got in the water he got caught right away and he couldn't... he was asking for help too but I couldn't cause I was in the same position that I couldn't help him."

Despite the challenge, Raul managed to pull Marley from the water.

Meanwhile, the current dragged Herman toward the ocean.

That's when some Good Samaritans pulled him from the water, seemingly lifeless.

"I thought he was dead already cause he was all black, bluish color and he wasn't breathing and his eyes were open," Sandra Lopez says.

While waiting for fire rescue to arrive, someone performed CPR.

Suddenly, Herman began breathing and was rushed to the hospital.

Marley says, "I'm glad he's ok and I thank God for giving us a miracle and not letting one of my family members go away."

Herman is expected to be OK.