CHICAGO (WLS) — A local family is mourning a father who died after falling off a personal watercraft Thursday near Chicago’s Navy Pier.

The sister of the man who died, 52-year-old Hosam Jadrawi, spoke exclusively with ABC7 Friday.

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The incident happened around 4 p.m. Thursday in Lake Michigan near the 900 block of East Grand Avenue downtown, Chicago police said.

According to police, Jadrawi was operating a personal watercraft when he fell into Lake Michigan. He was rescued from the water by CFD teams and transported to a hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead.

Jadrawi’s sister, Nancy Karan, says that one of Jadrawi’s two sons, who are in their 20s, tried to save him after the watercraft flipped over.

“My brother wasn’t a swimmer and didn’t know how to swim, so my nephew was holding onto him,” Karan explained. “The waves pushed them against the rocks, causing both of their heads to collide with them. My brother lost consciousness and tragically drowned in his son’s arms,” she added.

The man had just celebrated his 52nd birthday on Tuesday, she said.

No further information was immediately available as Chicago police continue to investigate.