ACTION 8 UPDATE:

Rev. Chette Williams /Source: Auburn Athletics

The boater’s body, recovered near the Kowaliga Restaurant on Lake Martin, has been identified as 61-year-old Chette Williams.

Rev. Williams was a longtime chaplain at Auburn University and also played linebacker there from 1982 to 1984.

According to police, the maritime-related incident occurred around 5:45 p.m. Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin told Action 8 News the Dadeville restaurant and a friend on the boat stopped at the restaurant for dinner. When they found out the restaurant was closed for a private event, Williams tried to get back into the boat and accidentally fell into the water.

At approximately 7:15 p.m. Sunday evening, dive teams from the Alexander City Police Department, Elmore County Sheriff’s Office and ALEA Marine Patrol recovered Williams’ body.

Williams was recovered near where he entered the water at approximately 7:19 p.m. and was pronounced dead. Williams’ body was sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences (ADFS) to perform an autopsy.

ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division is investigating the incident.

ORIGINAL:

The following agencies assisted in the search and recovery efforts were the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, Kowaliga Volunteer Fire Department, Red Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Real Island Volunteer Fire Department and Troopers from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Highway Patrol Division.

Around 7:15 p.m. Sunday night, dive teams from the Alexander City Police Department, Elmore County Sheriff’s Office and ALEA Marine Patrol recovered the body of a boater near the Kowaliga Restaurant on Lake Martin.

Action 8 News spoke with Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin, who said the unidentified man in his 60s and a friend stopped by boat at the Kowaliga Restaurant for dinner. When they discovered the restaurant was closed for a private party, the man tried to get back into the boat from the dock and accidentally fell into the water.

Action 8 News will update this story as more information becomes available.