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EXCLUSIVE: Investigation reveals how firefighter drowned in Lake Norman

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — Channel 9 anchor Allison Latos spoke exclusively to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Friday about its investigation into the drowning of Sherrill’s Ford-Terrell firefighter Bradley Long.

Long died after an underwater emergency while diving for a missing swimmer in Lake Norman on June 6.

Long and another diver spent about 14 minutes searching 82 feet below the surface for a missing swimmer when they and crews above determined it was time to resurface.

IMAGES: Procession for Capt. Bradley Long

Long experienced an emergency when the divers were 20 to 30 feet from the surface for a safety check.
 
"At that point, there was a signal given by Mr. Long that he was out, or low, or fixing to run out of air," Sheriff Darren Campbell said.
 
The diving expert who helped in the investigation said the divers should have been able to swim to the surface.

Long's partner tried to help, but somehow both lost their masks and couldn't get to their backup tanks, the sheriff said. That's when the other diver resurfaced.

Another rescue diver jumped in to help Long, but he also had issues.

“There was a leakage in the mask and no way for him to clear it,” the sheriff said.

The rescue diver, unable to reach Long, resurfaced, and the volunteer firefighter drowned.

Crews later pulled his body and the missing swimmer from the lake.

Diving experts from Garner, North Carolina examined all of the equipment and found it functioned properly.

Long's primary oxygen tank empty was empty, the sheriff said.

Foul play was not involved in the accident, Campbell said.

“Hopefully this never happens again, but hopefully the information we learn from this will help someone else,” he said.

The Sheriff’s Office closed its investigation as state and federal officials now look at the divers’ training and if they were equipped to handle the depths.

The two divers who survived, Ben Fodfrey and Derek Sigmon, are back on duty with the Sherrill’s Ford-Terrell Fire and Rescue.

Governor Pat McCrory signed a law last week honoring Long that amends the state Firefighters’ and Rescue Squad Workers' Pension Fund that provides survivorship benefits for members killed in the line of duty.

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