A devastating event unfolded over Memorial Day weekend at Lake Anna in Virginia when both a father and his teenage son drowned when the father tried to save his son. The incident took place on Saturday, May 25, around 1:10 p.m. near Carrs Bridge Road, roughly 60 miles northwest of Richmond, Virginia.
The victims, Matthew Atchley, a 42-year-old quality control engineer from Erie, Pennsylvania, and his 14-year-old son, Tyler Atchley, were attending a graduation celebration when the tragedy occurred. Witnesses reported Tyler struggling in the water, leading to Matthew diving in to rescue him. However, both were soon lost from view.
According to the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office, witnesses also saw Matthew struggling before he disappeared. Despite attempts by several bystanders to rescue the father and son, they were unsuccessful.
Emergency services, including 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, responded to the incident. After an extensive search, the bodies of Matthew and Tyler were recovered and declared deceased at the scene.
Authorities confirmed that the deceased were not residents of Virginia and were visiting the state for the holiday weekend. The bodies were transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia, for further investigation.
The Atchley family is now dealing with the loss of Matthew and Tyler. A family member, Heidi Johnson, described Matthew as a man who deeply cared for his family and shared that both he and Tyler were enthusiastic Pittsburgh Steelers fans. She expressed the family’s profound grief at the loss of both father and son.
The superintendent of the Harbor Creek School District in Pennsylvania, where Tyler was enrolled as a student, Kelly Hess, expressed 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 school district is offering counseling services for students and staff affected by this tragedy.
Sheriff Major Donnie Lowe underscored the importance of water safety, saying, “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 Louisa County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation into the incident. As of now, there is no suspicion of foul play. They are encouraging anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
