MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – The 24-year-old man who died after jumping into the Clinton River Sunday afternoon to rescue a 3-year-old boy was identified Monday morning.
Joshua Traylor, of Clinton Township, drowned Sunday evening attempting to save the boy, according to the Macomb County Sheriff's Office.
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A woman and her son were walking along the boardwalk with Traylor in the area of Gratiot and North River roads when the toddler slipped and fell into the water. The boy was feeding ducks before falling in.
Deputies said Traylor, 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, deputies said.
Traylor 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."