LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Jefferson County authorities said a man drowned in Lake Perry while trying to help a boy who was struggling in the water.

Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Herrig identified the man as Robert Courter, who was in his mid-20s and lived in the Nortonville area.

It started as a family outing at the lake for Courter, his fiancé Courtney Moore and her son, Jacob.

Moore said that they were racing out to a rope near the swim beach on the southeast side of the lake on Monday evening when they hit a spot where they couldn't touch the bottom. Jacob Moore started going under the water, she said, and he panicked.

She said Courter was trying to help the struggling boy and went under the water for eight to nine minutes before he was found.

A friend who was with them managed to get Jacob Moore to shore safely.

Courter and Moore were planning to get married Aug. 22.