Man drowns attempting to get dog’s toy in Cheat Lake

CHEAT LAKE, W.Va (WDTV) - A Pennsylvania man drowned in Cheat Lake Sunday, according to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Police.

Jeffrey Gerhardt, 61, of Smock, Pa., was on a boat with his wife and dog and went into the water to retrieve a dog toy at approximately 12:30 p.m., police said. He began to struggle while returning to the boat, went under water and did not resurface.

The WV DNR Police Dive Team was activated, along with divers from local fire departments, near Morgan Run Road. At approximately 5 p.m., a member of the dive team located and recovered Gerhardt’s body.

The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office, the Morgantown Police Department, the Cheat Lake Fire Department and EMS assisted police on scene.

The WV DNR Police said they would like to extend their condolences during this difficult time to the Gerhardt family.