Alabama father drowns in Lake Harding after rescuing his son, Lee County sheriff says
A 30-year-old Alabama man drowned in Lake Harding after rescuing his son from the water Friday afternoon, Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones told the Ledger-Enquirer.
Jacob Davidson’s body was pulled from the lake Sunday afternoon. Davidson and his six-year-old son were on a boat in the Halawakee Creek area when the young boy ended up in the water. He most likely fell in, Jones said.
The son was wearing a flotation device at the time, but strong winds pushed him away from the boat. Davidson jumped in and swam to his son. The father was not wearing a flotation device, Jones said.
As Davidson struggled in water, he began shouting. A nearby boater heard the yells and approached the pair. Davidson handed his son to the boater before he went under the water.
Davidson’s body was pulled from the lake 44 hours later, Jones said. Officials used sonar equipment and divers to recover his body. The multi-agency search included crews from Tallapoosa County, Alabama, Fort Benning and coastal Daphne, Alabama.
“If you’re in a watercraft, please utilize a flotation device,” Jones said. “That is just so important on the water.”
This story was originally published May 9, 2022 at 11:03 AM.