Man drowns trying to help boys recover lost fishing pole in Iowa pond, officials say

An Iowa man drowned trying to help two boys retrieve their lost fishing gear from a pond, authorities said.

The victim of the Aug. 8 drowning was identified as 31-year-old Keith Bychinkski of Earlham, according to an Aug. 12 news release from the Waukee Police Department.

Assistant Waukee Fire Chief Tomme Tysdal said two boys were fishing when one lost a pole and Bychinski, who was passing by, offered to help, WHO-DT reported.

Bychinski entered the pond, which authorities said is 16 feet deep with a muddy bottom, and began struggling and yelling for help, the outlet reported.

The boys called 911 , and Bychinski’s body was pulled from the water hours later, KCCI reported.

Bychinski is being called a “true hero,” according to a GoFundMe set up on behalf of his family.

“Keith was a kind-hearted, helpful, and positive person. He was always thinking of others and lending a helpful hand to those in need,” his family said.

According to family friend Addisyn Hanson, Bychinski’s sister said he “wouldn’t have been able to live with himself if he knew something happened to those kids. That’s why he got in the water to try to help them,” KCCI reported.

Waukee is about a 15-mile drive west from Des Moines.

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