A Pennsylvania man lost his life in the backwaters of Cheat Lake on Sunday.
At around 12:30 p.m., West Virginia Natural Resources Police responded to a call regarding a suspected drowning in the lake, near Morgan Run Road.
WVDNR police officers responded along with Monongalia County Sheriff’s deputies, Morgantown Police Department, Cheat Lake Volunteer Fire Department,and Monongalia EMS.
According to WVDNR’s Office of Marketing and Communications, it was determined that Jeffrey Gerhardt, 61 of Smock, Pa., was on his boat with his wife and their dog.
“Mr. Gerhardt went into the water from the boat to retrieve a dog toy. He began to struggle while returning, went under the water and did not resurface,” the statement said.
The West Virginia Natural Resources Police Dive Team was activated along with divers from local fire departments.
At around 5 p.m., an officer/diver with the West Virginia Natural Resources Police Dive Team found Gerhardt’s body.
“West Virginia Natural Resources Police would like to extend its condolences during this difficult time to the Gerhardt family,” the statement said.
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