A Toronto firefighter with a “larger than life” personality is being remembered as a family man and “practical joker” by coworkers, family and friends following his death.

Earl Strong, from Courtice, Ont., died after he was snowmobiling on Jan. 20 and ended up in the water in Sturgeon Lake. His body was found a day later after an underwater and helicopter search. He was 48.

“He was one of my best friends,” said Strong’s next-door neighbour, Kim Churchill. “We really lost one of the best.”

Strong was married with three sons. He was also a Toronto Fire acting captain at Station 211-B in Scarborough. He served as a firefighter for about 26 years.

Initial reports said Strong fell through the ice along with another snowmobiler, but the Ontario Provincial Police later said they accidentally drove into open water. The other man was taken to hospital with severe hypothermia-related injuries.

Police said an autopsy is being conducted this week to determine Strong’s cause of death.

Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association vice-president Kevin McCarthy told the Star that he was a close friend of Strong’s and that he has known him for more than 10 years.

“He was a great firefighter and that’s not something I say often.”

McCarthy said the flags at all fire halls across Toronto will be at half mast on the day of the funeral on Monday.

He said Strong was “well-liked” by everyone because of his smile, jokes and ability to become friends with anyone.

“He was larger than life. He had a strong personality; you knew when he walked into the room.”

McCarthy said he and Strong would also see each other at their kids’ hockey games. He said Strong was a “family man” who was very active in his sons’ lives.

Churchill said she’s lived next to Strong for about 12 years when they moved into their Courtice neighbourhood at the same time. She said over the years she’s been going over for get-togethers by the pool, birthday parties, New Year’s celebrations and just sitting on the porch having a drink.

She said he was always outside playing with his sons and dogs, chatting with people passing by, or shovelling everyone’s driveways in the winter.

“He was also a practical joker. He was either spraying me with the hose or trying to come up and scare me,” said Churchill. “The neighbourhood won’t be the same.”

Churchill said there has been a string of visitors to see Strong’s wife and children to bring food and express their condolences. She said there will be a celebration of life gathering on Sunday to remember Strong fondly.

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“He was always smiling, joking. He had so many friends.”

Correction - January 24, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said the sons of Kevin McCarthy and Earl Strong played on the same hockey team.