Kingsville man who died trying to save son in Lake Erie remembered as 'gentle person'
Tyson Koehn went into the water to help his son who was struggling to swim
A Kingsville man who drowned in Lake Erie late Tuesday afternoon while trying to save his son who was struggling in the water is being remembered as a "kind, considerate, gentle person."
Tyson Koehn, 41, was out boating with four children near Cedar Island around 4:45 p.m. when he went in the water to help his seven-year-old son who was swimming, but started to struggle, according family friend Bruce Goossen.
The father of four also began struggling and eventually went under water. The children were rescued by a passing vessel and a citizen from the shore who swam out to help, stated provincial police in a news release.
The OPP said neither Koehn nor the child were wearing a personal floatation device when they jumped in the water.
Search and rescue crews, including teams from the Canadian and U.S. coast guards, eventually found Koehn in the water. Emergency responders administered CPR and transported the man to hospital, but he was pronounced dead.
A GoFundMe page created by Goossen to help the Koehn family described him as an "excellent father, leader and provider" who was enjoying a day with his family "when tragedy struck."
The family is "devastated, and unsure of what the future holds for them now," he added.