HAYESVILLE, NC – On Monday, May 20, a senior Hayesville High School student was reported to authorities as missing while swimming in Lake Chatuge with classmates. The incident was reported by a Towns County official to have occurred east of the Lake Chatuge Dam in Clay County, NC. The student was identified as an 18-year-old male participating in “Senior Skip Day” prior to graduation.

“In the early afternoon of May 20, 2019, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Clay County Fire and Rescue, EMS and numerous other personnel from fire departments throughout Clay County responded to the TVA ‘Circle’ for the report of a drowning.  The victim was later found deceased and the name is not being released at this time,” Clay County Sheriff Bobby Deese said.

Towns County Fire and Rescue Water Dive Team responded to North Carolina’s request for mutual aid.

An official press release is expected to be issued by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office later today.