Man drowns while saving his disabled son
Thomas S. Vander Woude's greatest passions were his Catholic faith and his family, one of his daughters-in-law said.
That love for his family led him to sacrifice his life to save his son's.
On Monday, the 66-year-old Nokesville man died while trying to rescue his 20-year-old son from drowning, Prince William County police reported Monday afternoon.
"I'll miss the joy that he brings and brought," Erin Vander Woude, 42, said of her father-in-law.
Around noon Monday, police say Thomas Vander Woude drowned in a septic tank on his property at the end of Hooker Lane after his youngest son fell in, said Officer Erika Hernandez, police spokeswoman.
He was transported to Prince William Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Hernandez said.
Joseph Vander Woude, who has Down syndrome, was also taken to the hospital and was in intensive care as of Monday night, the family said.
"He still needs prayers," said Erin Vander Woude, standing on the front porch of her in-laws' house.
Police said the 20-year-old was outside cleaning the family's pool at the time, Hernandez said.
He walked into the yard and the lid on the septic tank apparently collapsed, police said.
The 66-year-old went to his son's help, pushing his way past his son into the tank and began to try to push him out, Hernandez said.
A man who was doing work at the house tried to help, holding Joseph Vander Woude up by his shirt, and yelled for the mother to call 911.
Fire and rescue workers arrived and pulled both men from the tank, Hernandez said. Police said that the father may have been under water for up to 20 minutes.
Thomas Vander Woude, who served as a pilot in Vietnam and later worked as an airline pilot, had seven sons with his wife of 43 years, family members said.
Erin Vander Woude said her father-in-law, known as Pa Pa to his 24 grandchildren, touched many lives, volunteering as a coach at Seton School in Manassas and through his work at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
She described his as a "life well lived."
Staff writer Elisa Glushefski can be reached at 703-878-8062.
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Reader Reactions
Hero. I was touched by this story a couple of days ago and keep thinking of how brave this man was….....in the midst of the chaos, this man rose above and saved a life, while losing his own.
How inexpressibly tragic for this family. There needs to be more public education and awareness of the dangers of suffocating gases in small spaces like that. There have been all too many cases where unwitting rescuers have died like this.
May God heal Mr. Vanderwoude’s son, bless his family and keep Mr. Vanderwoude in His loving arms.
Truly a hero.
This is so sad! And yet it shows the kind of bravery that love nourishes. Lighting a candle for Dad, son and family.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord,
And let perpetual light shine upon him,
May he rest in peace,
Amen.
A true hero.
Vanderwoude was an incredible Catholic, Father and Friend. He will be missed by many but welcomed joyfully into heaven. His happy wife and sons are a grand testament to the good life he provided to each of them. Although a tragic circumstance, he seemed to have lived a full great life, once which I hope we all one day can attain.
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