Lebanon man drowns at Cordell Hull Lake

A 19-year-old Lebanon native drowned at Cordell Hull Lake in Smith County around 1 p.m. yesterday afternoon.

The young man, later identified as Patrick Masterson, had been swimming with friends at the beach area when bystanders noticed that he was "in trouble," Smith County Sheriff Steve Hopper told The Lebanon Democrat.

"When I was a kid it was called swimming out to the buoys – the floating dividers that keep boats out of the swimming area. My understanding is that he swam out there and back two or three times. [On his final swim] they noticed he looked like he was in trouble," Hopper said. "A bystander tried to get out to him. [She] went down a couple times and couldn't find him."

Masterson's body was located by the Smith County Rescue Squad at 1:37 p.m.

Hopper said that authorities are still looking into the cause of the drowning. "I don't know what caused it or if he got tired [while swimming]," he said.

Staff Writer Sabrina Garrett may be reached at 444-3952, ext. 15 or via email at sgarrett@lebanondemocrat.com