Man who fell in icy lake identified by a relative

AVON - Almost two days after he fell in icy Nottingham Lake, police on Wednesday identified the 26-year-old Edwards man who died hours after being pulled from the frigid water.

Angel Chavez, whom police said was an illegal immigrant from Mexico who lived in the Edwards mobile home park, died of hypothermia at 10:45 p.m. in the emergency room at the Vail Valley Medical Center. Eagle County Coroner Kara Bettis ruled the death an accident.

An uncle of Chavez's identified his body. Police found the uncle's phone number with Chavez's body, said Avon Det. Mike Leake.

Police had been struggling to identify Chavez since they pulled him out of the lake. Chavez, who police said was drunk when he fell in the water, didn't have any identification.

"His uncle didn't know what (Chavez) was doing on the lake," Leake said.

A rescue crew went to Nottingham Lake after a woman reported a man had fallen into the open water at the center of the partially frozen lake Monday night.

Chavez had a high blood alcohol content of .251. The legal driving limit is .08, Leake said.

Chavez appeared to be by himself, walking on the lake, said Eagle River Fire Protection District Chief Charlie Moore, whose crews attempted the rescue.

Staff Writer Veronica Whitney can be reached at 949-0555, ext. 454 or vwhitney@vaildaily.com.

Vail Colorado