CHATHAM, Mass. (AP) – A 46-year-old Groton man has drowned after trying to rescue his 10-year-old daughter when she was swept out to sea by a strong current off Chatham.
Thomas McDonald lost consciousness swimming after his daughter off Lighthouse Beach early Sunday afternoon. He was later pronounced dead at Cape Cod Hospital.
The girl survived after an off duty lifeguard, 17-year-old Tanya O’Donnell of West Harrison, N.Y., swam 100 yards to the girl and waited with her until patrol boats from the Chatham harbormaster pulled them from the water.
She told The Boston Globe she felt helpless when she saw the girl’s father struggling. O’Donnell said she couldn’t go to him because she knew all three of them would drown.
The harbormaster’s boats also pulled out another woman who’d swum out to help.
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