Body of missing airman found in lake in New Mexico
ELEPHANT BUTTE, N.M. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - The body of a missing airman was recovered from Elephant Butte Lake in New Mexico on Monday.
An extremely busy holiday at Elephant Butte Lake calming down Monday evening, but as people spent their weekend celebrating with friends and family, first responders searched the waters for a missing Kirtland airman.
"We seen like five staters in their boats going that way with a different type of boat state police boat so we followed it around rattlesnake island on the east side of rattlesnake," said Adam Garley, a witness/
Erica Baker, Boating Manager at Elephant Butte State Park, says they got a call about a possible drowning Saturday afternoon.
They set out with other agencies, searching around the clock. The mission turned from search and rescue to search and recovery. They found the airman's body Monday afternoon.
Garley watched it all happen.
"They were in wide range, and then they went closer, and all the sudden, we said, 'Okay, they must have found him,' so we came right here and seen them coming right here towards the boat ramp," Garley shared.
Baker says they recovered the man's body near Lions Beach.
While an NBC affiliate in Albuquerque doesn't know what led to his apparent drowning, Baker told them the man was at the lake for recreation, and it was not a boating incident. She also didn't know if alcohol was involved.
The somber moment playing out as they brought his body to shore, where several fellow service members were waiting in formation, something Garley will never forget.
"It was a beautiful thing. What I saw I really, really respect that what they did. All eight of them were like that to the gentleman," Garley expressed. "I was really surprised they showed up like that. There was eight on one side, eight on the other side all saluting. They lined up and the boat brought him in. There was three state police cars...Just crazy. Poor guy."
A truly unique Memorial Day weekend for Garley, who is a Veteran himself.
"I'm just so sorry and my condolences out to the family. May he rest in peace," Garley further expressed.
