unilad homepage
unilad homepage
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • World News
    • Crime
    • Health
    • Money
    • Sport
    • Travel
  • Music
  • Technology
  • Film and TV
    • News
    • DC Comics
    • Disney
    • Marvel
    • Netflix
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Dad recalls the panicked final call he received from son before he died while kayaking on lake
Home>News>US News
Published 12:31 30 Mar 2025 GMT+1

Dad recalls the panicked final call he received from son before he died while kayaking on lake

Taryn Zinszer was 29 when he made a distressed phone call to his father

Britt Jones

Britt Jones

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
Featured Image Credit: YouTube/WFAA

Topics: US News, Parenting

Britt Jones
Britt Jones

Advert

Advert

Advert

A dad of a kayaker who died has recalled the heartbreaking final phone call his son made to him.

Taryn Zinszer, 29, called his father during his final moments to issue a sad message before dying in one of his favourite spots.

On March 15, he took his gear to the Lewisville Lake in Northern Texas where he is said to have frequented.

However, it all went wrong shortly before 11pm.

Advert

Now, Taryn’s dad, Troy has spoken to local news reporters to reveal the message his son gave to him before he died.

Taryn Zinszer died after his kayak allegedly capsized (WYMT)
Taryn Zinszer died after his kayak allegedly capsized (WYMT)

He explained that his son shared that he was ‘in the middle of the lake’ and he was ‘floating towards the toll bridge’ before he sadly passed away.

Taryn’s body was later found in the lake by his family and the Lewisville Fire Department, and it was revealed that he had been wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident.

Troy said Taryn’s last words to him were: “I’m in the middle of the lake and I don’t think I can make it."

The dad said: “He goes, 'I’m floating towards the toll bridge, but I don’t think I’m going to make it.’ He says, ‘Dad, I’m so sorry,’ and then the phone went dead.

"I've always been able to rescue him."

Taryn’s cause of death is still pending, but it was reported that he sadly died at 10.54pm.

It is believed that Taryn got into trouble whilst in the lake and that his kayak may have capsized due to the strong winds.

After his death, Troy and Taryn’s mother, Pam revisited their son’s favorite path, and recalled how he had been kayaking two weeks prior to his death.

Pam said: “He was just chilling.

"I’m sure he probably saw the sunset right before. The water was a little choppy that night and it was getting dark.”

Troy added: "My boy is dead. I just love him so much, and I miss him so much. He loved this lake."

His parents, Troy and Pam spoke of his last words (WYMT)
His parents, Troy and Pam spoke of his last words (WYMT)

Taryn is the second kayaker to die on a Northern Texas in March, as an 18-year-old boy drowned at Benbrook Lake after his kayak capsized.

Luke Nickens’ body was recovered on March 19 after having been unable to return to his upturned kayak the day before.

The two other people on the kayak managed to swim to shore, but sadly, Luke is reported to have gone under the water and did not resurface.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Nickens’ death was an accident.

Andrew McAuley, an Australian mountaineer and sea kayaker, also tragically lost his life after sending out a distress call during a journey in the water.

It is said that Andrew had his heart set on becoming the first solo kayaker to travel the Tasman Sea from Australia to New Zealand, traveling some 1,000 miles.

However, his attempt to complete the Tasman Sea in 2007 ended in tragedy after his empty kayak was found just miles from land.

  • Dad recalls heartbreaking voicemail his son left before he died from suspected bear attack
  • Dad issues urgent warning after son, 12, died from contracting brain-eating amoeba at popular swimming spot
  • Ozzy Osbourne's Black Sabbath bandmate recalls final conversation they had before he died aged 76
  • Dad of girl, 13, who died in boat crash recalls his heartbreaking last conversation with her

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
14 hours ago
15 hours ago
  • Aaron Schwartz / AFP via Getty Images
    an hour ago

    Trump says Lindsey Graham was 99.9 out of 100 after his death at 71 because of 'one bad moment'

    'A lot of people are at 100, but he did have that one little moment', Trump claimed

    News
  • Getty Stock Images
    2 hours ago

    Health officials identify 'potential source' of 'explosive diarrhea' parasite outbreak

    Michigan health officials have reported a record 2,640 cases amid the ongoing outbreak

    News
  • Photo by Jessica McGowan/Getty Images
    14 hours ago

    Lindsey Graham's sister responds after Trump recommends her to fill his Senate seat

    Lindsey Graham passed suddenly on Sunday, July 12, from a suspected aortic dissection

    News
  • Getty Stock
    15 hours ago

    Study reveals reason why women have a reputation for being better at multitasking than men

    Could science have finally settled the age-old debate about women being better multitaskers than men?

    News