Firefighter dies during search for man on Lake Norman Posted: Jun 06, 2016 5:26 PM EST Updated: Jun 07, 2016 12:31 PM EST
By WBTV Web Staff
(Christian Flores | WBTV)
A procession transported the fallen firefighter's body to the hospital. (Steve Ohnesorge | WBTV) MOORESVILLE, NC (WBTV) -
A firefighter died Monday during a search for a man who went missing on Lake Norman over the weekend. Two other divers were also injured.
Officials have not said exactly what happened during the search, but confirmed that 28-year-old firefighter Bradley Long, who went into the water earlier Monday searching for a missing 29-year-old man, died.
Long, who worked at the Newton Fire Department, was a volunteer with Sherrills Ford-Terrell Fire and Rescue. He was working with Sherrills Ford during the search. WBTV was told he was recently named Firefighter of the Year.
“Today, Sherrills Ford-Terrell Fire and Rescue suffered a tremendous loss during our efforts to recover a drowning victim from the waters of Lake Norman,” said Sherrills Ford-Terrell Fire Chief Rick Davis. "This afternoon three divers from our department encountered an emergency during the recovery effort. Unfortunately however, one of our firefighters, Bradley Long, age 28, did not surface and was later recovered and pronounced dead at the scene.”
Rescue crews had been searching the lake since Sunday afternoon. Officials said the missing swimmer jumped off a boat Sunday with two other people. The boat wasn't anchored and started to float away. 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.
After suspending the search around 9:30 Sunday evening due to darkness, crews started searching again 8:30 Monday morning.
The names of the divers injured have not been released, but officials said they are also from Sherrills Ford-Terrell Fire and Rescue. They suffered minor injuries. Officials said they were responsive when they were taken to the hospital.
The search for the missing man was suspended once Long went missing in the water. Officials confirmed the body of the missing man was recovered along with Long.
“I just can’t believe that it happened right here. I just really can’t. It’s a sad thing. I mean all these people here-it’s like a big family,” said Lake Norman neighbor Bobby Christensen about the deaths.
Family of the missing man said they are thinking about Long's family as well as their own, stating "the family considers that man a hero."
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