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Swimmer drowns in Franklin County lake

MOUNTAIN VIEW — A Plattsburgh man drowned Saturday while swimming in a northern Franklin County lake.

George W. Mitchell, 32, was boating on Indian Lake in the town of Bellmont and decided to go swimming, state police said in a press release.

“After jumping in the water, Mitchell began struggling,” police said. “Individuals who were boating with him made efforts to help him, but were unsuccessful.”

The state Department of Environmental Conservation, which sent forest rangers to the scene, said Mitchell was riding in a motorboat, entered the water and became distressed. He had been under water for about 90 minutes when rangers showed up.

Local firefighters, forest rangers, environmental conservation officers and the New York State Police Underwater Recovery Team responded around 1 p.m. and searched the lake until dusk but were not able to locate Mitchell’s body.

The search resumed around 7 a.m. Sunday. Mitchell’s body was located using sonar around 9:30 a.m. and recovered thirty minutes later by members of the State Police Underwater Recovery Team.

Franklin County Coroner Brian Landgon responded to the scene and authorized the removal of the body to Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone for an autopsy.

The autopsy found Mitchell died of asphyxiation by drowning, according to a report in the Press-Republican of Plattsburgh. Toxicology reports, which could take four to six weeks, are still pending.

Police said the case remains under investigation.

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