'Hero' Grandmother Dies After Attempting To Save Drowning Granddaughter

A Georgia grandmother who jumped into a lake to try and rescue her 13-year-old granddaughter has died following a week in intensive care.

On June 11, Stephanie Walker and her granddaughter, Makayla Prather, were fishing together in the West Point Lake when the teen got in the water and "became distressed," reports said.

"We believe one of the victims entered the water from the shoreline, became distressed," Troup County Sheriff's Deputy Stewart Smith told the LaGrange News.

Despite not knowing how to swim, the 49-year-old jumped into the lake in a desperate bid to rescue the child, but also began to struggle.

"And the second victim entered the water in an attempt to help them and became distressed themselves," Smith said.

Since there were no eye witness to the incident, information on what occurred was limited, he added.

Smiths said the authorities were alerted about the incident by someone who had been with the victims just before the accident happened.

"Our caller who had been with the two prior to the event taking place, had just returned to the location when he found the adult victim in the water," he said.

First responders found the grandmother unresponsive and not breathing. She was rushed to Well Star West Georgia Medical Center in critical condition.

She died on Saturday, June 18, more than a week after the accident, news station WSB-TV reported.

Makayla was not found until later in the evening on June 11. Divers with the Columbus Fire and Rescue recovered the teen’s body from the lake around 7:30 p.m., last Saturday, according to investigators.

In a Facebook post, Walker’s son, Rodrikeus Prather, described his late mother as a "hero."

Rodrikeus has now organised a fundraiser to help cover funeral expenses, he said: "On Saturday, there was a tragic drowning at West Point lake."

"My mom Stephanie Walker, a hero, jumped in the lake trying to save my niece. Unfortunately my mom has passed away this morning while fighting on life support and she is at peace, we ask that you keep us in prayer as we go through this tragic moment."

"We are reaching out to our families, friends, and loved ones to help with funereal expenses for Stephanie walker the grandmother of my niece Makayla prather."

"We appreciate and thank you for all your donations and prayers."