Photo: Racine County Sheriffs Office
A Missouri man drowned after saving his two young relatives from the waters of Lake Michigan. Thomas Walker was at North Beach in Racine, Wisconsin, on Sunday (August 22) with his family when he saw that the two young boys were in distress.
He jumped into the water and managed to pull them both to dry land. Unfortunately, Walker did not make it back to the shore. His body was located about an hour later, and he was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
"He was a kind soul and an amazing uncle to his niece and nephews. And how we lost him is a testament to how great an uncle and all-around guy he was. [We] never met a person who didn't like him. He is missed greatly," Walker's family said in a statement released by the Racine County Sheriff's Office.
The National Weather Service issued a warning about hazardous water conditions at the time and advised people to avoid swimming in the lake. According to the Journal Times, waves up to seven feet were reported around Lake Michigan over the weekend.
Officials advised beachgoers to check the conditions before going in the water.
"This, like the other unfortunate drownings this summer, are tragic, incredibly sad, and preventable," Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said.