FERRISBURGH, Vt. -- A 36-year-old Starksboro man died early Thursday after striving to save his son from drowning at Button Bay State Park late Wednesday afternoon.

Jason Russell struggled to keep his son above the water. He was unresponsive as rescuers, including the boy's mother who paddled to them in a borrowed kayak, converged on the scene, state police said.

Both father and son were brought to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, state police said.

The boy was evaluated and released and the father was admitted to the intensive care unit, according to a report written by Sgt. Matthew Daley. Russell was pronounced dead at about 4 a.m., according to Daley.

The incident began shortly before 5 p.m. when the boy attempted to swim from shore to a small island a short distance away. As he was about halfway he appeared to have trouble swimming and yelled for help.

That's when Russell jumped into the water to save his son. As he swam toward his son, Russell reportedly started to have trouble swimming himself.

"Despite having difficulty Jason was able to get to his son and lift him out of the water. At this point, Jason started to submerge underwater while elevating his son," Daley wrote.

The boy's mother, 36-year-old Aaron Morris, seeing the incident unfold from the shore, managed to find a kayak and paddled out to where Russell was struggling to keep his son out of the water, according to Daley.

When Morris arrived in the kayak, her son was able to hang onto the bow. At this point, however, Russell was unresponsive. Morris attempted to grab Russell and lift him out of the water. Another boat came to assist and lifted the boy into that boat. An attempt to do the same with Russell was not successful. A second boat arrived and was able lift the father out of the water.

Both the boy and his father, still unresponsive, were taken to the boat launch area inside the park. They were met by Vergennes Rescue, Ferrisburgh Fire Department, Middlebury Rescue and Charlotte Rescue.

"These departments worked tirelessly together to revive Jason, who was still unresponsive when he reached the shore," Daley said.

It does not appear that alcohol or drugs played any role in the incident, according to Daley.

The incident is still under investigation and witnesses are asked to call the New Haven State Police barracks at 802-388-4919 any with information.