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Crews investigate possible drowning at Cheat Lake

Emergency response crews were investigating a possible drowning Tuesday evening at Cheat Lake.

According to MECCA 911 radio dispatch traffic, a person was attempting to swim to the shore at the Morgan Run backwater area of the lake when he went under - and didn't resurface.

He hadn't been seen for three minutes when friends called 911 at 7:40 p.m., according to radio traffic.

More than an hour later, at 8:45 p.m., rescuers, including dive teams from Morgantown and neighboring Marion County, were gathered at the shore launching a search.

The man's family was also at the scene, reports said.

Dispatchers reported two rescue divers entering the water at 9:02 p.m.

While the lake is popular with boaters and swimmers, it has also proven deadly over the years.

A 68-year-old woman drowned in Cheat Lake during a boating outing in 2018.

The year before that, a 20-year-old WVU student fell victim to its waters while swimming.

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Emergency crews on scene near Morgans Run Road Tuesday.