Body of CO Firefighter Found after Three-Day Search

The search for the body of a Colorado man missing on Lake Martin for three days is now over.

Shortly after 7:30 p.m. Sunday, authorities recovered the body of 24-year-old Zachary Dakota Lewis, said Alabama State Trooper Cpl. Jeremy Burkett. Lewis was found in the Big Kowaliga Creek area of Lake Martin near the Willow Point Golf Course. Lewis was a firefighter for the Rattlesnake Fire Protection District in Colorado.

“The community around Lake Martin and Alexander City and the fire department there, I don’t even have the words to describe how wonderful they’ve been,’' said Lewis’ uncle Kevin Frieze on behalf of the family. “They’ve treated Zach with honor, like a brother. They’ve been amazing.”

Lewis was in Alabama with friends and was visiting Lake Martin for the Labor Day weekend. “Zachary loved God with all his heart and impacted his community,’' he said. “He was one of the best kids I know. He treated people with respect.”

Freize said the family has received an outpouring of support since Lewis’ disappearance. At least 50 high school friends showed up at the home of Lewis’ parents while he was missing, and young special needs man who knew Lewis had his mother drive him 50 miles just give Lewis’ mother a hug.

That was the kind of impact Lewis had on those who knew him.

“That’s just his personality. He was just a good kid,” his uncle said. “He legitimately had a kind heart.”

The search for Lewis began Thursday when he was reported missing after a boating incident. Authorities said he was boating with friends around 1 p.m. Thursday “when he exited the vessel and disappeared beneath the water’s surface,’’ Burkett said.

Members of the Alexander City Rescue Squad, Alexander City Fire Department, Childersburg Rescue Squad, Houston County Rescue Squad, TowBoat U.S., and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Marine Patrol Division worked throughout the weekend to search and locate Lewis. The incident remains under investigation by the ALEA Marine Patrol Division.

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