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Members of the ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division found the body of a missing Dallas County man in the Cahaba River on Friday morning.

Dallas County Sheriff Mike Granthum said Steven Nichols’ body was found Friday morning between 6:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. in the Cahaba River.

“The body was found 3 ½ miles from where he first jumped in,” Granthum said. “He was taken to forensics where we don’t suspect any foul play. We believe it was an accident.”

Nichols, 23, had been missing since Tuesday night when witnesses said he attempted to swim across the river before disappearing beneath the water. Nichols was swimming in the Elam Holley Sr. Park area of Cahaba Park on Highway 22.

“It’s tough, I wished the family found him alive,” Granthum said. “It wasn’t the end result they wanted, but at least the family has closure.”

Granthum thanked the following law enforcement organizations for their assistance in the search: ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division, rescue teams from Autauga County and Elmore County and local private boaters all assisted the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and Selma-Dallas County rescue team with the search.

“If it were not for any of them, the search wouldn’t have gone successful or as fast,” Granthum said.