Body Of Missing Swimmer In Chautauqua Lake Recovered, Identified


BEMUS POINT — Deputies have identified the missing swimmer whose body was recovered Monday afternoon in Chautauqua Lake.

According to the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office 46-year-old Brian Twardeski, of Jamestown, was swimming with a female and three children in the lake Sunday afternoon when he went missing after large waves from an incoming storm pulled him under water.

The Chautauqua County Water Emergency Team was dispatched to assist navigation units in a search of the area along with the Bemus Point, Ashville, and Lakewood Fire Departments.





Officials called off the search at 5:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon due to inclement weather but resumed their search on Monday morning around 7:00 a.m.

The Chautauqua County Water Emergency Team assisted by the New York State Police Underwater Recovery Team located Twardeski using sonar around 11:30 a.m. Monday with his body being recovered by divers at around 12:00 p.m. Monday afternoon.