Father and son's 'fun' game of catch in Lake Michigan ends in horrific double tragedy
David Meneou, 65, of Joliet, Illinois, and his son Jameson Meneou, 20, of Lockport, died on the afternoon of July 5 near Dune Acres, Indiana, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).
Indiana conservation officers responded around 4:20 p.m. to reports of an active water rescue near the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk area.
Jameson's mother, Candace Keller Meneou, told NBC 5 Chicago the father-son pair had gone out boating - one of their favorite shared pastimes.
'Boating was something they always did together,' she said. 'Jameson couldn't drive a car, but he could drive a boat.'
At some point, the two began playing catch. When the ball flew too far, Jameson jumped in to retrieve it but quickly found himself in trouble.
'Playing catch with his dad was his favorite thing to do,' Keller Meneou said. 'David really loved his son.'
According to a preliminary investigation, Jameson - who had autism - began to struggle in the deep water.
His father jumped in after him but also became overwhelmed, the IDNR said in a statement.
'David Meneou attempted to rescue his son but also began to struggle in the deep water,' the agency said.
By the time emergency crews arrived, a good Samaritan had pulled both men from the lake. Conservation officers and National Park Rangers performed CPR as they rushed the pair by boat to the Port of Indiana.
Both were taken to a nearby hospital, where they were pronounced dead. The investigation remains ongoing.
Neighbor Bob Heinzel told the Chicago Sun-Times he wasn't surprised Meneou tried to save his son.
'There wasn't any way he was going to let anything happen to his son. He was very devoted to his son. That's what makes it even more tragic,' said Heinzel, 69. 'He was a really nice guy. I'm still in shock. A lot of us are.'
Heinzel said he often spoke to Meneou about boats and cars. 'He was easy going,' he added.
He said he first learned of the tragedy from another neighbor, Joe Bannon, on Sunday afternoon.
'I knew he was out on his boat over the weekend,' Heinzel said. 'I've talked to like five of the neighbors around here and they are just all in disbelief.'
The Indiana Dunes may be a popular summer getaway, but the area can be deceptively dangerous - especially the waters of Lake Michigan.
Southern Lake Michigan is considered one of the most hazardous areas in the Great Lakes for rip current-related drownings.
Between 2002 and 2020, the lake accounted for over 125 drownings and 360 rescues caused by rip currents alone, according to the National Weather Service and National Park Service.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources warns swimmers may encounter steep underwater drop-offs just feet from shore, and that cold water shock - even during hot summer months - can cause panic, muscle cramps, and hyperventilation.
Some of the dunes themselves also pose rare but serious risks.
In 2013, a six-year-old boy was buried for hours after falling into a sinkhole formed by internal dune erosion at Mount Baldy, one of the park's tallest dunes.
Officials urge visitors to swim only in designated areas, follow warning signs, and remain aware of fast-changing lake conditions.
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