A 14-year-old boy from New York drowned Saturday while swimming near Bells Mill Bridge in Hall County, sheriff’s Major Jeff Strickland said.

The young man was identified as Dago Bento Mejia, of East Meadows, NY, who was in town visiting the area with family and friends.

Mejia was swimming about 50 feet from the shore when witnesses reported that he went under and did not resurface, Major Strickland said.

Hall County sheriff’s deputies and members of Hall County Fire Services responded to the scene just below Bells Mill Bridge on Georgia 129 North. They arrived at approximately 6:40 p.m. and discovered that Mejia had disappeared and was still in the water, Major Strickland said.

Dive Teams with the Hall County Sheriff's Office and Fire Department also responded in an attempt to rescue the missing teen.

Three rescue teams searched the lake for approximately an hour before Hall County Fire Services’ Dive Rescue Team was able to recover Mejia from the lake. The teen was rushed to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville where he was pronounced dead, Major Strickland said.

Mejia’s body was discovered in approximately 11 feet of water and 50 feet from the shoreline, Major Strickland said.

“The incident appears to be a tragic accident and no foul play is suspected,” he said.

Mejia is the third drowning victim in the Hall County portion of the 38,500-acre Lake Lanier this year, Major Strickland said.

Though no foul play is suspected, the incident remains under investigation by the Hall County Sheriffs Office, Major Strickland said.