Former Wheaton College football players Jalen Shaffer, 26, and Philip LoChirco, 24, both died in the tragic incident
Credit: Wheaton College Athletics (2)
NEED TO KNOW
- Two men who drowned in Lake Michigan on June 13 have been identified as former college football players
- One of the victims didn’t hesitate to try to save his friend, a grieving father said
- An investigation into the incident is ongoing
Two young men who died in Lake Michigan over the weekend have been identified as former college football teammates. A grieving father of one of the victims said his son didn’t hesitate to try to rescue the other man.
“He didn’t think twice about jumping in the water to save his friend,” Joel Shaffer told Fox affiliate WXMI of his 26-year-old son Jalen Shaffer’s last act on Saturday, June 13, at the south pier of the Pigeon Lake Channel on Lake Michigan.
That Saturday, Jalen, who hailed from Grand Rapids, Mich., and 24-year-old Philip LoChirco from Warrenville, Ill., were with a group of friends at the pier when some of them jumped into Lake Michigan, the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office previously confirmed to PEOPLE.
At that point, LoChirco began to struggle in the water, so other members of the group jumped in to help, including Jalen, who then went into distress and disappeared under the water’s surface, officials said.
While the friends managed to pull one of the men to shore, bystanders gave flotation devices and called 911. When first responders arrived at the scene, they were able to retrieve the second victim.
Both LoChirco and Jalen were pronounced dead on the shoreline, despite lifesaving efforts by emergency personnel, authorities said. An investigation is ongoing, and the two deaths are not considered suspicious. The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for an update about the case.
Credit: Wheaton College Athletics
After the tragedy, tributes poured in for the two young men, who played football at Wheaton College, ABC affiliate WLS reported.
Jalen played for four seasons and was part of the graduating class of 2022, and LoChirco played for three seasons and was in the class of 2023.
“Our hearts are heavy as we share the tragic passing of Jalen and Phil,” Jesse Scott, head football coach for the team, told the outlet in a statement.
“They were more than former players in our program – they were brothers, teammates, and friends whose lives left a lasting impact on Wheaton Football,” he added.
After graduating college, LoChirco became a coach at Wheaton Academy and was known for his dedication and joy for life, WLS reported. He’s survived by his wife, Emily, and his family. “His smile and his laugh lifted people up,” the school’s athletic director, Brad Byrne, told the outlet, “and our players knew he cared about them.”
Credit: Wheaton College Athletics
Jalen's family said the 26-year-old always put others first, and worked at Bridge Street Ministries in Grand Rapids, WXMI reported.
"He was a person that loved people, but he loved people because of his relationship with Jesus," his dad, Joel, told the outlet.
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Ryan Waalkes, the executive director of the nonprofit, said that Jalen left behind a “legacy” and was known for his humility and kindness. “Jalen was the kind of person that embodied the love of Jesus,” Waalkes told the outlet. “He is the kind of person that when you saw Jalen, you knew more of what God was like."
Jalen's brother-in-law, Kyler Dunn, told WXMI, “I look forward to seeing him again someday when we meet again in heaven,” adding, “but for now, I get to live the rest of my life honoring him and ultimately living for our Lord and Savior, Jesus, just like he did."
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