A West Virginia father was discovered dead after drowning in a lake while attempting to save his son.
The body of Kevaughn Jamar Montgomery, 25, of Charleston, was recovered from Sutton Lake on July 16.
Montgomery was boating with friends and family on July 15 when his kid fell into the water and struggled with his life vest.
Montgomery then into the water and assisted his son to safety, but slipped beneath the surface a short time later, according to CBS station WOWK-TV. The father’s body was discovered the following day at 7 p.m. local time in the Wolf Run area, according to WSAZ-TV. The DNR stated that Montgomery was not wearing a personal floatation device at the time.
“This is a tragedy,” WVDNR Capt. Douglas Benson stated in a subsequent PEOPLE story. “There is no other way to view it. It’s a sad tragedy.
WVDNR Police Chief Col. Bobby Cales expressed sympathies to Montgomery’s friends and family upon his unexpected death.
“His heroic actions to save his son are a testament to his courage and love.
The police chief also emphasized the significance of wearing personal flotation devices while on the lake.
“This tragedy underscores the importance of using life jackets and taking all necessary precautions on the water to ensure the safety of our loved ones while enjoying our beautiful waterways,” Cales said, as reported by the newspaper.