A father and his 6-year-old son have both died while out on a fishing trip together. Police don't suspect foul play and believe the dad jumped into the water when his son fell in.
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Per a report by FOX 5, Danny Sumner, 37, and his son Donovan, 6, were out fishing on the Rappahannock River in Spotsylvania County on March 22. Danny's wife, Madeline Sumner, tried to call him in the afternoon, but he didn't respond. "When Danny's out fishing, sometimes he may not hear his phone. Y'know, he's very focused," she told FOX 5. However, alarm bells started ringing that night when the pair never came home. At around 9:45 PM, Madeline notified the Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office.
Officers found Danny's car and phone on the dock when they arrived at the scene. Divers recovered Danny and Donovan's bodies after a brief search in the water. The outlet explains that Investigators believe Donovan had just caught a fish and fell into the river. His father dived in to save his son but quickly got into trouble himself. Police do not suspect foul play and believe the incident was a tragic accident.
Danny's Passing Has Shocked The Community
The family has set up a GoFundMe to help with finances. The fundraiser explains that Danny was the sole source of income for the household, as Madeline was a stay-at-home mum. 'Danny was known in his community for being the guy to help without being asked,' the Fundraiser says. The post also explains that he had just taught his son to ride a bike without stabilizers.
The William & Mary Tribe Men's Basketball team also posted a tribute to Danny on
Facebook. Their post says, "Deeply saddened to learn about the loss of Tribe basketball alum Danny Sumner '10 and his son, Donovan. Danny scored 1,146 points over his career, 2007-10, leading the Tribe to 64 wins and an appearance in the NIT in 2010."Angling is a relaxing sport but not without dangers, especially near deep water. In October, a father of three was fishing in Mountain Creek Lake in Texas. His 6-year-old son Noah fell in, and he dived in to save him. Unfortunately, the pair were not wearing life jackets, and the current reportedly pulled them away from the shore.
