Officials said the drowning of a 16-year-old from Fayette County on Tuesday at Cheat Lake in West Virginia was accidental.

Investigators on Wednesday released the identity of Ronald Dean Economus of Point Marion, a student at Albert Gallatin High School.

Economus, of Falling Timbers Road, was swimming with a group when he began to struggle and did not resurface, according to the Monongalia County Sheriff's Office.

Jackie Barrett, the teen's aunt, said Economus tried to swim across the lake but could not.

“He wasn't a good swimmer, and he wasn't able to make it. He just went under, and they tried to grab him,” said Barrett, of Morgantown.

Cheat Lake is a short drive from Point Marion, and many people go there to swim, she said.

“(Economus) was a very friendly person,” she said. “He had a lot of friends. There were so many people (Tuesday), and they were there for him.”

Brian Reams, an assistant principal at Albert Gallatin High School, said Economus was entering the 11th grade there.

“I got to know Ron very well. He was a ninth- and 10th-grader here,” Reams said. “Very outgoing, had a lot of friends, very respectful to the teachers. Just an overall good little kid.”

Economus always talked about playing football and baseball in his community, Reams said.

He urged any student who wants to speak to a counselor to call the school at 724-564-2024.

Sheri Dunham, central office administrator at the high school, said she was Economus' teacher during middle school.

“Ronald was always very respectful to me. (A) good kid, pleasant, fun to have in class, lively,” she said. “My heart just goes out to his family at this time. I think we're all in shock.”

Economus played baseball for the Little Knights League in Masontown and enjoyed hanging out with his friends and playing video games, according to his obituary.

Rescue crews recovered his body after a four-and-a-half hour search. Dive teams and several fire departments joined the search.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the John S. Maykuth Jr. Funeral Home, River Avenue, Masontown.

Rossilynne Skena is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-836-6646 or rskena@tribweb.com.

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