‘Heroic’ dad jumps into Mississippi River to save child before drowning, TN cops say
A Tennessee father drowned in the Mississippi River after jumping in to save his child, deputies said.
On June 25, Dustin Lynch was fishing on the river at the Tennessee-Arkansas border when his son “ended up” in the water, Lauderdale County Chief Deputy Garrison Taylor told McClatchy News in an email.
Lynch was with a group on a sandbar in the river when the current washed him and his son away, WMC reported.
Taylor said Lynch went into the water after his son, and while he “ultimately saved the child,” Lynch went under the water and then went missing.
Lauderdale County deputies enlisted the help of multiple state agencies in Tennessee and Arkansas to search for Lynch.
Around 4:30 p.m. on June 26, Lynch’s body was discovered in the river near Mississippi County, Arkansas, Taylor said.
“The child is alive due to the heroic efforts of Dustin,” Sheriff Brian Kelley told McClatchy News. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to this family. The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office owes a debt of gratitude to the many citizens and agencies that helped bring Dustin home.”
Lynch’s wife’s employer said on Facebook that their son was in a hospital recovering on June 26.
Lynch’s family is from Ripley, WMC reported, which is about 60 miles northeast of Memphis.
This story was originally published June 28, 2023 at 3:24 PM with the headline "‘Heroic’ dad jumps into Mississippi River to save child before drowning, TN cops say."
