Several area agencies, including police, firefighters and the county Water Emergency Team, responded to Lakewood after receiving word of the missing boater around 5:30 p.m. The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office said two navigation boats that were patrolling the lake immediately responded.

County dive members began a search for the boater, only described as a man in a press release late Saturday. A search of the shore also took place with the help of area fire departments and Starflight helicopter.

“Preliminary information suggests that the missing boater jumped into the water for a swim when he went missing,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

The man was not located as of midnight.

P-J photo by Eric Tichy

“The search for the missing boater and the investigation into the incident is ongoing by the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office,” the press release stated.

Deputies and dive members were assisted Saturday by Lakewood-Busti police and firefighters from Lakewood, Celoron, Bemus Point, Dewittville and Ashville.