The Cherokee County Coroner’s Office has confirmed that a Fort Payne man drowned on Friday morning after falling in the water while fishing with his son at the spillway gates on Weiss Lake on County Road 7 in Leesburg.

Cherokee County 9-11 received the call just after 9:30 reporting that the man fell off of a concrete wall and went into the water and did not resurface. 

The Cherokee County Rescue Squad, Leesburg Firefighters and Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency immediately responded to the scene and coordinated a search and rescue effort. Alabama Power officials were notified of the situation and immediately shut down all operations at the dam and the spillway gates.

Dive crews from the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office were also contacted to assist. 

Rescue crews spent several hours searching the water with boats and divers. According to Cherokee County Coroner Paul McDonald said the body of Cedric Davis was recovered just after 7:00 p.m. Friday night. 

Other responding agencies included the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama Marine Patrol Officers and Alabama Game and Wildlife Officers.