A University student and Iraq war veteran drowned Friday in Hyland Lake in Bloomington.

Simon Chung, father of victim David Chung, said police told him the cause of death was hypothermia.

David Chung was playing soccer with a youth group from northeast Minneapolis’ Korean First Baptist Church, where he is a Sunday school teacher, at Hyland Lake, his father said.

“One of the kids ran after the ball near the water and (David) ran after him,” he said. “After the kid was safe, he got into the lake to get the ball.”

According to the Star Tribune, David Chung’s body was found 300 feet from the shore.

Lydia Chung, David Chung’s sister, said Rev. Samuel Pi, pastor of the Korean First Baptist Church, identified David Chung’s body and notified the family.

“We were shocked,” she said. “We’re doing OK, though.”

David Chung was most recently enrolled at the University in January and had just been admitted to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

His mother, Kunae Chung, said he was studying public relations.

“We wanted him to go to school in Florida, but he wanted to go to the University of Minnesota,” she said.

His mother said David Chung was a “very smart and kind person.” She said that after college he wanted to work in international public relations.

His mother said he enjoyed the University and had a lot of friends there.

Daryl Pinto, a political science junior and friend of David Chung’s, said he was a “fun-loving, charitable person.”

“He definitely lived life on the go,” he said.

Simon Chung said his son served as a medic in Iraq – from which he returned in November – for 18 months and used his love of photography while he was there.

“The photos he took while he was in Iraq were published in newspapers,” he said.

His mother said that whenever a higher-ranking officer would see him, “They would ask to take a photo with him as a reference.”

When he returned from Iraq, she said, he was very sad and depressed.

“But when he returned to Minnesota and was back at the University, he was really happy,” she said.

“He said he thanked God that he had survived in Iraq so he could come back to Minnesota and help out at the church.”

Family members said it is still deciding where the funeral service will be and will announce it today.