Friends drown after one jumps into lake to save the other as he struggled in the water

PORT SHELDON, Mich. (WZZM) - Loved ones are remembering a 26-year-old man who drowned trying to save a friend from Lake Michigan for his humility, faith and willingness to help others.

Jalen Shaffer, 26, and Philip Lochirco, 24, were staying with friends in Port Sheldon Township, Michigan. Some of the group, including Lochirco, jumped from a pier Saturday into Lake Michigan, according to the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office.

Lochirco began struggling in the water and went under. Investigators say Shaffer jumped in to help, but during rescue attempts, he also went underwater. The two young men drowned.

Friends, coaches and coworkers are now remembering Shaffer, describing him as a quiet leader whose actions often spoke louder than words. Both he and Lochirco were former football players for Wheaton College, a private Christian college and NCAA Division III school in Wheaton, Illinois.

On the field, Shaffer was a leader, and according to Tim Swore, his high school coach at NorthPointe Christian, he showed those same qualities out of uniform.

“He was one of the most talented players I’ve ever coached,” Swore said. “You add in the factor of his unselfishness, his giving, his quiet leadership. He’s just so humble.”

So, it wasn’t a surprise when Swore heard Shaffer had jumped into the lake to try and save his friend.

“It’s not surprising at all that Jalen Shaffer was somewhere where someone was in trouble,” Swore said. “He was willing to jump in and try to save his friend and give up his own life.”

Recently, Shaffer had been working with Bridge Street Ministries, a faith-based youth organization in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“In the three years that I knew him, I never once heard him complain, and we do really hard work,” said Ryan Waalkes, the nonprofit’s executive director, in a phone call. “He showed up for the team and for the kids, and whenever he showed up, he brought calm and a steadiness.”

Shaffer is being remembered as a young man who was lovingly confident in who he was and someone who inspired others by truly living his beliefs.

“The goal is to get to heaven, and you serve in that meantime that you’re here on Earth. That’s how he lived his life, and that’s exactly what happened,” Swore said.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, but deputies say it is not believed to be suspicious.