Dad drowns trying to rescue 9-year-old son floating away on tube, NC officials say
A 33-year-old dad died after jumping into a North Carolina lake to rescue his 9-year-old son, news outlets report.
The 9-year-old was on a tube that was being pulled behind a boat when it became detached Saturday, June 4, on Lake Waccamaw, officials with North Carolina State Parks told WWAY.
As the boy started floating away, his dad jumped in to get him without a life jacket on, officials told WECT.
The child was wearing a life jacket and was rescued, state parks told WWAY, but “the man did not resurface.”
Crews began searching for the man after a jet ski rider who tried to help the family led them to the area where the man went missing, officials told Columbus County News.
His body was later found by drone crews, the outlet reported.
No other details about the incident including the man’s name had been released as of Sunday, June 5. North Carolina State Parks did not immediately respond to a request for more information from McClatchy News.
In May, an 18-year-old went missing after his kayak flipped on Lake Waccamaw, McClatchy News previously reported. His body was found days later.
Lake Waccamaw is in southeastern North Carolina, about 120 miles south of Raleigh.
This story was originally published June 5, 2022 at 12:36 PM with the headline "Dad drowns trying to rescue 9-year-old son floating away on tube, NC officials say."
