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'He was a family man' | Body of missing Charles County father recovered

The man went into the water to save his 8-year-old son. His son made it safely to shore, but he didn't.

INDIAN HEAD, Md. — The body of a Charles County a father who went into a large creek to rescue his son was pulled from the water on Wednesday.

Family members told WUSA9 on Tuesday that the father, Marvin Harris, jumped into the water to save his 8-year-old son who fell in from their boat in Mattawoman Creek near the Smallwood State Park. 

The 8-year-old made it to shore safely, but the father did not. The fire department said the father was last seen flailing in the water but family members told WUSA9 that he could swim.

Officials said the father and son were fishing about 25-30 feet from shore when they went into the water.

Family members told WUSA9 that the boy ran to a neighbor's house and got them to call 911. 

The fire department and the Coast Guard searched the large creek extensively before finding and recovering the man's body on Wednesday. 

Credit: Family
Marvin Harris (left), Marvin Harris Jr. (right)
Credit: Family
Father missing in Mattawoman Creek

WUSA9 spoke with Harris's family as the search continued for the missing father. For all of the unknowns surrounding the situation, they say there are two things they know for sure: Harris was comfortable in those waters and they are not surprised he would go in to save his son. 

Laneika Stewart says her partner of nearly 21 years has always been a man who helped others.

"I'm hoping that he's somewhere he just can contact us and hopefully they find him on another island over there," Stewart said Tuesday.

Family says Harris fishes in that area of Mattawoman Creek two to three times a week.

While with his son Tuesday morning, the 8-year-old fell in and Harris went in after him, trying to save his son. Stewart says she is not sure how their son survived because she wasn't sure he could swim. 

"I just found out that he knew how to do something last week when I took him swimming. I'm proud of him. He was brave, knowing what he did," Stewart said. "Cause if he was by yourself, we wouldn't know nothing. My son. He's the hero."

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