‘God has called him home’: Community ‘devastated’ over heroic grandpa who died trying to save grandchild

A Louisiana grandfather drowned while trying to rescue his grandchild after she fell into a lake, according to multiple reports.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a man drowned while attempting to rescue his grandchild at Bayou Lacombe, WDSU reported.

‘There are no words to adequately express the void he has left in our lives or how deeply he is missed.’

The family identified the man as Chris Rushing, according to WDSU.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries describes Bayou Lacombe as a “complex including connecting bayous, canals, swamps, and marshes that are also associated with the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.”

The sheriff’s office said the young girl fell into the water, and Rushing jumped in to save her, but he began to