An off-duty Spotsylvania County firefighter drowned Thursday in Lake Anna, authorities in Virginia say.
The victim is 24-year-old Mason Fercovic-Ortegel, Spotsylvania County Fire, Rescue & Emergency Management (FREM) said Friday.
“This is a heartbreaking loss for Mason’s family, friends, coworkers, and our entire FREM family,” the department said in a statement in part. “We ask that you keep his family and everyone who knew and loved Mason in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.”
A boater called 911 about 7:30 p.m. Thursday and said a man who’d been with them went into the water near Seay Point Road in Mineral, Virginia, and did not resurface. People at the lake tried to find him after losing sight of him, the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office said.
First responders from both Spotsylvania and Louisa counties went to the scene, as did the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Divers recovered Fercovic-Ortegel’s body just before midnight following “an extensive search,” authorities said.
“Our department will stand beside Mason’s family and our members in the days ahead. We will do everything we can to support them, care for one another, and honor Mason and his service to our community,” the statement from Spotsylvania County Fire & Rescue continued.
“Please continue to lift up Mason’s family, friends, and fellow department members,” the department said.
