Matthew Atchley died attempting to rescue Tyler D. Atchley from drowning, Bumpass, Virginia, May 25, 2024. Tyler, 14, was struggling to stay afloat in the murky, deep water of a cove of Lake Anna about 100 feet from shore after he entered the water to retrieve a flotation device that had drifted away from shore. Tyler’s father, Atchley, 41, quality engineer, was alerted and responded to the shore. Seeing Tyler struggle in the water, Atchley swam out toward Tyler. Reaching a point about 10 feet from where Tyler, who had submerged, was last seen, Atchley repeatedly submerged in an attempt to locate him. Atchley then started to struggle and submerged again, without resurfacing. Others in the party obtained life jackets and goggles and entered the water to try to locate Atchley and Tyler, but limited visibility in the murky water beneath the surface impeded their efforts. Police, along with rescue divers arrived, and both Atchley and Tyler were located, submerged, in the cove. They had drowned.
2024-0000210-10557Matthew Atchley
Erie, PA