Michael Jones and his wife, Tykia Richmond.
A Central Georgia family is mourning the loss of Macon-Bibb County firefighter Michael Dewayne Jones.
The 24-year-old drowned at Lake Tobesofkee Saturday evening.
He jumped into the lake to rescue his sons, 5-year-old Joshua and 7-year-old Jarell, as well as a little girl who was also playing in the water.
"The little girl started drowning," said Tiffany Jones, Michael's sister. "He saved her. My nephew started drowning; he saved him. My other nephew started to drown and somehow my other nephew got back in the water and started to drown."
Michael's widow, Tykia, said she left her family at the lake and made a quick trip to a nearby convenience store. When she left, everything was calm, the kids were OK and Michael had their 7-month-old strapped to his chest. When she returned less than 10 minutes later, there was a bystander holding her baby, the kids were all wet and Michael was in the water.
Macon-Bibb County Fire Chief Marvin Riggins said Michael had been with the fire department for a week, but he was already part of the firefighter brotherhood.
"It's gonna be tough for his training group because they learn to bond and grow together, so it's gonna be tough," Riggins said. "Our hearts are heavy for the family and for the department itself."
As the family struggles with the loss, Tiffany says she still can't believe their hero is gone.
"It was like shock. Like, I know he's gonna come up out of that water, I know he's gonna walk around here trying to find us."