Midwest Dive Team Members on Lake Red Rock (Courtesy Brian Hamman)

Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Brian Hamman reports the Midwest Regional Dive Team responded yesterday to Lake Red Rock outside Pella, in Marion County, to assist officials in locating a possible drowning victim. The team consists of members from Cass and Ringgold Counties, along with personnel from the Red Oak and Clarinda Dive Teams. It was the third time the team had been called to locate a missing person since the beginning of July. Crews remained on scene throughout the entire night until the victim was later found early this (Wednesday) morning, by a woman who was walking her dog.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office says the body has been identified as that of 25-year-old Derek Long. Authorities say Long and several family members were on a pontoon boat Sunday when he jumped into the water to help a 6-year-old child who was drifting away from the boat. He didn’t come back up, but the child was rescued.  The woman reported she saw the body in the lake near her home around 6:15 a.m.