MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – A 24-year-old man has died after jumping into the Clinton River Sunday afternoon to rescue a 3-year-old boy.
The Macomb County Sheriff's Office said the man, a woman and her son were walking along the boardwalk in the area of Gratiot and North River roads when the toddler slipped and fell into the water.
UPDATE: 24-year-old identified after attempting to save 3-year-old boy from Clinton River
Deputies said the man, who is a friend to the woman, jumped in to rescue the child, but encountered problems.
A nearby fisherman also jumped in the water and was able to rescue the child but not the man, deputies said.
The man was pulled from the water after a lengthy period of time, the Sheriff's Office said, and was then taken to an area hospital where he died.
Linda Fletcher saw the whole thing from her balcony.
"Over there, the bottom is just that little railing, and kids are leaning over that all the time," she said.
Fletcher told Local 4 she hopes something will be done to prevent another tragedy like this from happening.
"I feel so bad for the family," she said. "I don't want to see that anymore. It was very upsetting."