May 29--The body of a Canadian fire chief has been found nearly a month after he was swept away by swift waters in Cache Creek.

Cache Creek Fire Chief Clayton Cassidy went missing May 5 when he was checking on rising water levels, and the only sign of him until his body was discovered Saturday night was when authorities on the day he went missing found his Jeep pushed up against a washed-out bridge.

Search and rescue operations continued for nearly two days until the Royal Canadian Mounted Police announced on May 7 that the search had become a recovery effort.

According to the Toronto Star, the 59-year-old Cassidy was found not far from where his vehicle was located.

Cassidy, who was with the Cache Creek Volunteer Fire Department for nearly 30 years, was honored with a Medal of Good Citizenship in 2016 after assisting Cache Creek residents following a devastating flood that hit the town a year earlier.

"While flood damage can be repaired and we can take measures to prevent further flooding, the thing that can't be replaced is the life of Clayton Cassidy. That will be a tragedy that lives with us for years to come," Cache Creek Mayor John Ranta told the Star.