By Teddy Kulmala
The State
LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. — The former firefighter who went missing in Lake Murray last week, leaving his 4-year-old daughter alone in the boat, found joy in firefighting and in driving his boat on the lake, former coworkers say.
Durham Alexander DeLaura, 35, was reported missing in Lake Murray on Friday evening after his boat drifted to shore with his 4-year-old daughter alone in the vessel, officials have said. Four days of searches by boats and plane have turned up nothing, and it remains unclear how the former firefighter fell overboard.
“He was physically fit,” said Irmo Fire Marshal Brian Haley, a friend and former coworker of DeLaura’s. “He was prepared. He was a professional rescuer. I guess it just goes to show you an accident could happen to anybody.”
DeLaura was a volunteer and later hired by Irmo Fire District in 2001, according to Chief Mike Sonefeld. He worked there through early 2004 before going to the Columbia Fire Department.
“Most fire chiefs remember the young ones that are full of energy,” Sonefeld said. “They usually drive you nuts, but they’re the best ones you’ve got.”
While a firefighter for Irmo, DeLaura found excitement even in the drudgery of firefighting, Haley said.
“He didn’t just want to be a firefighter, he wanted to be the best one,” he said. “We had a fella that had a heart attack one time. (DeLaura) was with me on that call. We did CPR, put a defibrillator on the fella and saved him. He came back.”
DeLaura loved being out on the lake in his boat, Haley said.
“There were several of us helping a friend build a dock out there,” he said. “He drove his boat (there) every day. That way when we were done, he would be out enjoying the lake.”
Columbia fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins said DeLaura was with the department through 2016.
“We didn’t go wrong with hiring him,” Jenkins said. “I thought he had what it takes to be a great firefighter. He had a very unique personality.”
DeLaura’s 4-year-old daughter was turned over to her mother after crews began searching the waters Friday night, officials have said. The S.C. Department of Natural Resources has said it will continue its water and air searches until a recovery is made.
Copyright 2017 The State
https://www.facebook.com/sis.tiernandooley/posts/10155100652462144