Dad Recalls the Panicked Final Call He Received from Son Before He Died While Kayaking on Lake
John Whitman will never forget the last phone call he received from his son, Eric. It was a crisp autumn afternoon when the 24-year-old set out for what was supposed to be a peaceful solo kayaking trip on Lake Superior. But just hours later, John’s phone rang—Eric’s voice trembling on the other end.
“Dad… I think I’m in trouble.”
John’s heart pounded as he gripped the phone. “What’s wrong, son?”
“The wind’s picked up… I can’t paddle back. The waves are too strong,” Eric said, his voice breaking. The call was filled with the sound of rushing water and wind howling in the background.
John tried to keep his son calm. “Listen to me, Eric. Stay in the kayak. Conserve your energy. Help is coming.”
Eric had always loved the water. He had been kayaking since he was a teenager and never took unnecessary risks. But nature is unpredictable, and that day, it turned against him. A sudden storm had rolled in, whipping the lake into a fury. His kayak, light and small, was no match for the towering waves.
“I’m so cold, Dad,” Eric’s voice cracked. “I can’t feel my hands.”
John’s heart broke as he shouted into the phone, “Stay with me, Eric! Stay awake! Hold on!”
But then, the line went silent.
John tried calling back. No answer. Desperately, he dialed 911, his hands shaking as he gave the dispatcher Eric’s last known location. Rescue teams were dispatched immediately, but the storm was relentless, making the search nearly impossible.
Hours passed. Then, the gut-wrenching news came. They had found Eric’s kayak—capsized, floating near the rocky shoreline. Not far away, they discovered his body. Hypothermia had set in quickly, and with the brutal conditions, Eric never stood a chance.
John was devastated. His son was gone. The memories of their fishing trips, their long talks, their shared love of adventure—ripped away in an instant.
Now, John speaks out, urging others to take extreme caution when venturing onto open water. “Eric was strong, experienced. But even the best can be caught off guard,” he says. “Always check the weather. Never go alone if you can help it. And for God’s sake, always wear a life jacket.”
Eric’s loss is a painful reminder of nature’s power. What started as a peaceful day on the lake ended in tragedy. And for John, that last phone call—his son’s panicked voice—will haunt him forever.
“I just wish I could have saved him,” he whispers.
But now, all he can do is make sure others don’t suffer the same fate.
