Officials report that a North Carolina firefighter’s body has been recovered after he went missing during a search for a missing swimmer.
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Three divers with Sherrills Ford and Terrell Fire and Rescue were hoping to find Cruz but after an hour of diving in 50 to 80 feet of water, it was clear something went wrong. Two divers came out of the water, Long did not, officials said.
Sherrills Ford Fire Rescue Chief Rick Davis said, “Today we suffered a tremendous loss during our efforts to recover a drowning victim”.
After crews could not find him Sunday, several agencies resumed their search for his body Monday.
Long, 28, had been with Sherrills Ford Fire Rescue for roughly 12 years and also worked full-time as a fire captain for the City of Newton Fire Department. The boat was not anchored and floated away from where the people were swimming. The three tried to swim and catch up with the boat, but the missing man wasn’t able to make it back to the boat.
The names of the injured divers and their conditions have not been released.
Officials say the swimmer jumped off a boat in the water near Mooresville on Sunday. Long began his firefighting career as a junior firefighter at Sherrills Ford-Terrell Fire and Rescue when he was 14 years old, and he continued to volunteer there.
Cruz was a father of a 2-year-old and his wife is expecting another child. Long was a highly-trained and dedicated member of the Newton Fire Department.
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Both the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office and Wildlife officers are investigating the two deaths, and firefighters were asking for prayers for both families.
