RHINELANDER - We're learning more about the man who drowned in Lincoln County yesterday afternoon.

Forty-two-year-old Xavier Patton drowned yesterday in Crystal Lake. He was trying to help his daughter who was struggling in the water.

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Department says shortly after one o'clock they were called to a Tomahawk resort where Patton and his family were spending the day at the beach.

"One of the daughters appeared to have some problems; he was going to help her. While going to do that, one of the daughters yelled for help; mom went in and got the daughter out. Then Xavier started to flail in the water and then went under," says Lt. Tim Fischer, from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department.

Patton's cousin pulled him out of the water and gave him CPR. An ambulance took him to Ministry Sacred Heart Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A witness told us today it looked like Patton was suffering some kind of medical emergency, and wasn't under water long enough to drown. But the Sheriff's Department assures us that's not the story they got yesterday from bystanders.

"Being around the water is a dangerous time. Use flotation devices, life jackets, use the buddy system, understand your own limits- these are all things people have to cognizant of when they're on the water whether you're in two feet of water or 12 feet of water," says Lt. Fischer.

We also spoke with Deputy Medical Examiner Scott Krause today and he says they've ruled Patton's death an accidental drowning. Their examination revealed water in his lungs, and no other signs of medical distress.