Story by Chris Lawrence
SUTTON, W.Va. — A Charleston man gave his own life to save his son from drowning. West Virginia Natural Resources Police said the body of Kevaughn Jamar Montgomery, 25, of Charleston was recovered from Sutton Lake around 7 p.m. Tuesday by members of the DNR Law Enforcement Dive Team.
According to Natural Resources Police Lt. Mike Coberly, Montgomery and his family were on a rented boat in the Wolf Run area of the lake Monday morning when his young son was swimming in the water. Although wearing a life jacket, the PFD apparently became loose and caused the youngster to start struggling.
“The child started to struggle in the water. Mr. Montgomery being the father of the child jumped into the lake to rescue his son. He was successful in pushing the child to safety, before he tragically slipped beneath the surface of the water himself,” said Coberly.
According to Coberly, Montgomery was not a strong swimmer, but didn’t give a that a second thought.
“In the urgency of the moment seeing his son struggling in the water he pushed that aside and jumped into the water to help his young son,” said Coberly.
Divers located Montgomery’s body in about 12 feet of water in the same proximity of where he entered the water. The recovery was made after divers spent more than 12 hours combing each square foot of the area in a search effort.
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Mr. Montgomery during this difficult time. His heroic actions to save his son are a testament to his courage and love,” said Colonel Bobby Cales. “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.”