by Kelly Rohrbough
STAFF WRITER
GRAFTON -- A Grafton man is dead after drowning in the waters of Tygart Lake early Tuesday afternoon, said Taylor County Sheriff Clark Sinclair.
Gabriel F. Kearns, 20, had been swimming with friends, said Sinclair.
Taylor County police and firefighters, and officers from the Department of Natural Resources, responded to the lake around 1:30 p.m., the sheriff said.
Divers from Barbour County and Grafton pulled Kearns' body from the water, said DNR Officer John Gonzales.
. Kearn's friends called the incident in on a borrowed cell phone from someone on the campgrounds, said DNR Officer John Gonzales.
Divers from Barbour County and Grafton pulled Kearn's body from the water, he said.
As of right now the incident appears to be an accident, he said. The case remains under investigation.
Kearns was taken to the Grafton City Hospital.
Staff writer Kelly Rohrbough can be reached at 626-1403 or by e-mail at krohrbough@exponent-telegram.com.