A father died in Michigan on Thursday after he and his young son encountered trouble while swimming across a campground lake. Christopher Malone, 42, was identified as the man who drowned.
Malone and his eight-year-old son were swimming across a lake at Campgrounds-R-Us in Owosso Township when they began to struggle, according to Shiawassee County Lieutenant Keith Hansen. A nearby camper heard cries for help around 5 p.m. and attempted to rescue the pair, but was only able to bring the boy to shore.
"They got about halfway out, were unable to finish the swim, and started yelling for help," Hansen told The Argus-Press. After approximately 20 minutes in the water, Malone was found unconscious. Emergency responders attempted life-saving measures before transporting him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators do not believe drugs or alcohol were factors in the drowning. Law enforcement indicated that no life preservers were used, and Malone had reportedly left the designated safe swimming area of the lake.
Family members described Malone as a "devoted" husband and father who had "completely turned his life around" in recent years. They stated he was "kind, caring, and always willing to help others," and that his wife and children were "the center of his world."
A fundraiser has been created for Malone's family by his wife's cousin. According to the fundraiser's page, Malone was attempting to keep his son afloat during the incident.