By Marla Jones, Reporter

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ala. — Officials were called to a possible drowning at Martha’s Falls in the Little River Canyon National Preserve.

At approximately 1:30pm on Saturday, May 12, a 14-year-old youth went under the water and never resurfaced. At approximately 3:15pm, officials recovered the body of Josue Andres Lopez, a student from Rome, Ga., downstream from where the incident occured. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Cherokee County Coroner, Dr. Jeremy Deaton.

First responders from DeKalb County Rescue Squad, DeKalb Ambulance Service, Fisher Rescue Team, U.S. National Park Rangers, and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Water Patrol & Aviation all aided with the search.