Father Drowns Trying to Save Son on Tubing Trip

A Kensington father drowned on a Wisconsin lake as he tried to save his son during a vacation tubing expedition.

WUSA reports Norman Robertson, 45, was driving a boat Wednesday that pulled his son on a tube, but the 10-year-old struggled against big waves that pushed him away from the boat. Neither Robertson was wearing a life jacket on Shawano Lake.

While his son was able to swim to shallow water and was rescued, Robertson went under the water.

A plane spotted the Rockville psychiatrist’s body Thursday morning.

High winds and waves caused the boat to drift rapidly away from the pair, Wisconsin authorities said. When a tow rope caught in the boat’s propeller, the boat became inoperable.

Wisconsin officials said the boy was lucky to be alive after being out on the lake without a life jacket.

Neighbors said Robertson is survived by his elderly father, two sons, two stepsons and a wife.