Mississippi man drowns in Lake Martin
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
Mississippi man drowns in Lake Martin
By Christa Jennings
The Sheriff’s Office and other agencies search for a drowned victim in Lake Martin. Photo submitted by Sheriff Michael Howell
The body of a Mississippi man who drowned in Lake Martin was recovered early last Friday evening, concluding a search that began last Thursday afternoon.
The case began at approximately 1:27 p.m. April 15 when the Sheriff’s Office received a medical call at 131 Turkey Trot Lane in the Lake Martin community off of County Road 20, northeast of Equality. The caller then later stated that it appeared to be a drowning.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, at 1:32 p.m. last Thursday Coosa County deputies, Kellyton medics, Equality Volunteer Fire Department, Alexander City/Tallapoosa County Search & Rescue, Alexander City Fire and Rescue, and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Marine Patrol responded to the call.
The identity of the victim was released by the Sheriff’s Office last Friday afternoon after the family was notified.
The Sheriff’s Office reported that at approximately 4:26 p.m. April 15 the family of the victim, 20-year-old Vazquez Israel Saavedra of Mississippi, was notified of his drowning. At that time, the search remained ongoing for Saavedra’s body.
At about 5:09 p.m. last Friday, April 16, his body was recovered. Sheriff Michael Howell thanked all the surrounding agencies that assisted with the search and recovery efforts, including Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Alexander City Fire and Rescue, Alexander City/Tallapoosa County Search and Rescue, Equality Volunteer Fire Department, Kellyton Volunteer Fire Department, and ALEA Marine Patrol.
Howell especially expressed his gratitude for the Alexander City/Tallapoosa County Rescue team.
“We were able to find him using special equipment that they only have at two agencies in the state of Alabama,” Howell said.
He added that Saavedra’s body was found and recovered using sonar technology, which is only available with the Alexander City/Tallapoosa County Rescue and at an agency in Daphne in south Alabama.
Sheriff Howell and his staff stated that their thoughts and prayers are with Saavedra’s family.