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Police find body during search for missing man who jumped in water to save dog

James Eddie Curtis Jr., 22, reportedly dove into the water of Little Lake Santa Fe just after 5 p.m. Monday when his dog fell out of his boat. Neither have been seen since.

BRADFORD COUNTY, Fla. — UPDATE: Monday 11:25 p.m. | The Bradford County Sheriff's Office has located a body in the lake, but are awaiting positive identification. 

From Major Brad Smith: 

With heavy hearts we have located a body in Little Lake Santa Fe. A positive identification will have to made and then the 8th Circuit Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

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The Bradford County Sheriff's Office is joined by several other agencies searching for a young man who dove into a Florida lake to save his dog.

Credit: Bradford Co. Sheriff's Office

James Eddie Curtis Jr., 22, reportedly dove into the water of Little Lake Santa Fe just after 5 p.m. Monday when his dog fell out of his boat.  

Major Brad Smith said crews from Alachua County Sheriff's Office, Putnam County Sheriff's Office, and Florida Fish and Wildlife have joined the search of Little Lake Santa Fe for the missing man. 

Private citizens are on their boats searching as well.

Smith said the man's girlfriend and her daughter were in the boat with the man when he went into the water but are now safe at the police command center. 

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