A man lost his life after trying to save his drowning girlfriend, who fell into a waterfall and tragically died.
On Monday, July 12, 29-year-old Michael Mayer and his family went to a picturesque swimming spot in Tompkins County, New York, per Syracuse.
It was a familiar area for the late family man as he had visited the area most weekends with his siblings when he was a young boy.
Michael, who worked as a contractor, was there with his 27-year-old girlfriend, Carissa A. Stone, their five-year-old son, and his nine-year-old niece and nephew.
Typically, the swimming spot on West Branch Cayuga Inlet in Newfield is calm, stable, and relatively safe. Sadly, on that particular Monday, the water had become extremely volatile as a result of heavy rains.
While most of his family were on the bank of the water, Michael began recording his girlfriend on his phone moments before she suddenly fell in the water, his brother, David Mayer said - per the outlet. Michael immediately dropped the phone and jumped in to save her.
"He died a hero," David said.
Tompkins County Undersheriff Jennifer Olin confirmed on Friday, July 16, that the family had stood on the bank when Carissa fell in the water and the strong current swept her beneath its surface.
Michael had tried to rescue her, Thomas T. Basher Jr., assistant chief of the Ithaca Fire Department added.
The children, who witnessed the couple go under the water, alerted the attention of a stranger who called the emergency services at around 6:45 PM.
Tragically, the couple died of drowning and their bodies were recovered after three hours.
Michael and Carissa loved being outdoors, regularly went on boating trips, and often went swimming with their son, David Mayer told the outlet.
While Michael was employed as a contractor, Carissa worked at Clark's Food Mart in Dryden. She was described as a "funny" and "upbeat" person by a close friend.
"Her mother’s wild child, she lived her life without fear of the unknown and lit up the room with her contagious smile and personality," her obituary read.
Our thoughts are with Michael and Carissa's friends and family at this difficult time.
.jpg_xHGjS9?tr=h-184)
.jpg_aWiLjp?tr=h-184)