Father and Son Drowned After Game of Catch Went Wrong in Lake Michigan
Family members said the two were playing a game of catch when the tragedy happened
Authorities said the investigation into the incident is ongoingA father and son were reportedly playing a game of catch before they both tragically drowned in Lake Michigan over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, authorities and family members said.
The victims were identified as David Meneou, 65, of Joliet, Ill., and Jameson Meneou, 20, of Lockport, Ill., the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said in a news release shared with PEOPLE on Wednesday, July 9.
Authorities said the incident occurred on Saturday, July 5. At about 4:20 p.m., local time, emergency responders were notified about a reported active water rescue on the lake near the town of Dune Acres in Indiana.
'When the Conservation Officers arrived, two men had been removed from the water by a Good Samaritan,' the DNR stated in its news release. 'Conservation Officers and National Park Rangers boated the men to the Port of Indiana while performing CPR. The two men were taken to a local hospital, where they were pronounced deceased.'
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Candace Keller Meneou, David's former wife and Jameson's mother, told NBC affiliate WMAQ that the two victims were on a boat in Lake Michigan headed to Dune Acres near Indiana Dunes National Park. She added that David and Jameson, who had autism, were playing catch when, at some point, the ball was thrown overboard.
PEOPLE contacted Keller Meneou for comment on Wednesday.
According to the DNR, both men were in the water at the time when Jameson went into deep water and experienced trouble.
'David Meneou attempted to rescue his son but also began to struggle in the deep water,' per the news release.
Keller Meneou told WMAQ that for Jameson, who was her only child, 'Playing catch with his dad was his favorite thing to do," adding that David loved his son.
Daniel Meneou, David's brother and Jameson's uncle, echoed similar sentiments in an interview with CBS affiliate WBBM about the love between father and son.
"Jamie was his life," Daniel told the outlet about David. "Of course, my brother was going to try to save his son.'
According to Daniel, based on what he heard from witnesses, David and Jameson's boat was anchored on a sandbar, and the two were playing their game when the ball went into the water and Jameson tried to retrieve it.
Daniel also noted that there were other boaters that day helping out. "I mean, it made us feel good at the moment," he told WBBM.
The DNR said in its news release that the investigation into the incident is ongoing.
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