A Memorial Day weekend outing turned tragic at Lake Anna in Virginia when a father and his teenage son drowned in a desperate rescue attempt. The incident occurred on Saturday, May 25, around 1:10 p.m. near Carrs Bridge Road, about 60 miles northwest of Richmond.
Matthew Atchley, a 42-year-old quality control engineer from Erie, Pennsylvania, was attending a graduation party with his family when his 14-year-old son, Tyler Atchley, began struggling in the water. Witnesses reported seeing Tyler in distress and Matthew jumping in to save him. Both soon disappeared from sight.
“It was reported that witnesses observed the father struggling, just before losing sight of him as well,” the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office stated. Several bystanders also entered the water in an attempt to rescue the pair but were unsuccessful.
Emergency responders, including teams from the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office Marine Units, Mineral Volunteer Fire Department, Lake Anna Volunteer Rescue, the Department of Wildlife Resources, and the Spotsylvania County Fire & EMS Dive Team, were dispatched to the scene. After exhaustive efforts, the bodies of both Matthew and Tyler were recovered and pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities confirmed that the victims were from out of state and were visiting for the holiday weekend. Their bodies were sent to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Richmond for further examination.
The Atchley family is now mourning the loss of both Matthew and Tyler. Heidi Johnson, a relative, described Matthew as a man who “loved his family dearly” and noted that he and Tyler were avid fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers. “It’s heartbreaking to lose them both,” Johnson said.
Kelly Hess, superintendent of the Harbor Creek School District, where Tyler was a student, shared her condolences. “It is with a heavy heart that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of one of our Junior High students and his father while on vacation out of town. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time,” Hess said. The district is providing counselors for students and staff to help them cope with the tragedy.
Sheriff Major Donnie Lowe emphasized the importance of safety around water, stating, “Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the Atchleys. This incident is a somber reminder of the unpredictable nature of water and the importance of safety around it.”
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, but authorities do not suspect any foul play. The Louisa County Sheriff’s Office continues to urge anyone with information about the incident to come forward.