A tragic fishing trip in Virginia took a heartbreaking turn when a father and son drowned in March, and the whole incident was captured on the father’s camera, authorities say.
On March 22, Danny Sumner, 37, took his 6-year-old son, Donovan, to fish at a boat landing on the Rappahannock River in Spotsylvania County around 5 p.m. local time, according to the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office. When they didn’t return home later that evening, Danny’s wife, Madeline, called the authorities at 9:45 p.m. Shortly after, divers entered the river and found both victims.
Major Elizabeth Scott of the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office shared that the family, along with their pastor, went to the scene in search of Danny and Donovan. It was the pastor who discovered Danny’s phone with a video on it, which he handed over to the deputies when they arrived.
In the video, Donovan had just caught a fish, and his dad was filming the joyful moment. “He was celebrating, Mr. Sumner was videoing this on his cellphone,” Scott explained. “When the child stepped back and fell into the river, the cellphone was seen dropping onto the dock. Mr. Sumner went in after him, and tragically, both of them drowned.”
Authorities are still awaiting the medical examiner’s report, but Scott confirmed that detectives have found no signs of foul play. It’s still unclear whether the father and son had access to safety equipment like life jackets or ropes, or what the river conditions were like that day.
Madeline said that fishing was something Donovan loved doing with his dad. “They went plenty of times,” she said, emphasizing that it wasn’t something new for them.
The loss has left a huge impact on their community, and many have rallied around the family. Danny and Donovan’s obituary described them as “inseparable” and noted their kindness, with the family saying, “Their souls departed this world, together, as the Lord called them both home.”
Danny, an educator, is remembered as a “loving son, brother, husband, father, friend, and teammate,” and he had been the sole provider for his family. A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Madeline and their surviving younger son, Danilo. The page also describes Danny as a “devout Christian” who lived a Godly life and exemplified kindness in everything he did.
As for Donovan, he was remembered as “a kind and gentle spirit” who enjoyed playing with his baby brother. “They were some of the most gentle and kindest souls you could ever meet,” the obituary says. “We have gained two beautiful angels and pray that the Lord will continue to keep and strengthen us during this extremely difficult time of loss and grief.”
