BARCELONA - The Chautauqua County Water Emergency Team was dispatched Wednesday evening to help find a swimmer who disappeared in the water near Barcelona Beach.
According to a police report, Victor M. Arce Jr. of Fredonia was pronounced dead at Westfield Memorial Hospital after he was found in the water by the WET Team. Arce was swimming with friends near the Barcelona Beach breakwall when he went under water. His friends tried to find Arce, but were unable to find him before they called emergency crews.
The WET Team was training in Lake Erie at the time and was dispatched from Van Buren Bay near Dunkirk around 7 p.m. along with a Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office boat.
By the time emergency crews arrived on the scene, it was estimated Arce had been under water for between 15 and 20 minutes. The Chautauqua County Water Emergency team and Sheriff's Patrol Boat were requested and responded together. Divers from the Water Emergency team were able to find Arce, and took him to Westfield Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Also responding were the Westfield Police, Westfield Volunteer Fire Dept and the Sherman Volunteer Fire Dept.