Grandfather dies trying to save his 5-year-old grandson from drowning

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA/Gray News) - A man drowned earlier this week while trying to rescue his 5-year-old grandson in the waters off Dauphin Island.

The 75-year-old jumped into the water in an attempt to save his grandson in distress Thursday.

The young boy ended up getting rescued by his older brother, but their grandfather then found himself struggling in the water.

Dauphin Island Police Chief Kym Claw said a surfer and two others spotted the man. They swam over and pulled him onto a surfboard and back to shore.

Once onshore, paramedics used defibrillators to try and revive him, but he ultimately died.

Authorities didn’t immediately identify the family involved.

According to a witness at the scene, the grandfather was vacationing from Florida.

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