Rescue teams recovered the body of a male swimmer who apparently drowned in the Youghiogheny River Tuesday evening in Perry Township, Fayette County.
Fayette County Coroner Dr. Phillip E. Reilly confirmed that divers recovered the body of the victim, who “was swimming across in an area and went under.”
He said his office would not release the identity of the victim until all relatives have been notified. “It’s believed to be accidental,” he said, pending further investigation by his office. State police also were investigating the incident near the Layton Bridge.
According to a Fayette County 911 supervisor, dive teams from Fayette County and Murrysville were called to assist in the search for the swimmer, which focused in an area off Wilson Road, near the town of Layton.
Director Darrick Gerano said the Murrysville Medic One Dive Team was summoned at about 5:45 p.m. and sent four divers into the murky water.
“It was a slow current with maybe 2 feet of visibility,” he said, explaining the victim was recovered in about 9 feet of water.
“The firemen were able to get there and interview witnesses and get a point where he was last seen,” Gerano said. “That made this a quick operation. Within six minutes, we were able to locate him.”
