A Greenville man drowned Monday afternoon while swimming in the Allegheny River in Emlenton.
Lonnie Straub, 50, was pronounced dead at 4:10 p.m. by Venango County Coroner John Greggs.
Emergency personnel were alerted at 2:20 p.m. that an Emlenton resident witnessed a man going under in the river in the location of the Emlenton IGA grocery store.
Straub's body was found shortly after 3 p.m. by the Emlenton boat crew near the location where he was last seen. Divers removed the body from the water.
Sources said the man was camping in the area and came down to the river for a swim. Straub apparently tried to swim the width of the river and back and accomplished the journey across but was not able to complete the return trip.
The river is about 150 yards across in that area.
Emlenton Borough police were at the site within two minutes and were assisted by Emlenton volunteer firefighters, Emlenton Ambulance Service, helicopters from the state police and Stat Med-Evac, and divers using boats and camera equipment.
