Missing teen's body found

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) -  

Juan Carlos Fernandez, a 16-year-old Georgetown High School student, drowned Thursday in Lake Georgetown.

It took searchers nearly eight hours to find his body.

On a hot day, the cool water of Lake Georgetown can be tempting but deceiving. Just ask the teens who come out to swim in the area often.

"When I jumped off the overlook, I jumped in the water and the waves were really choppy and every time I was getting ready to come up for air, the water was splashing in my face- I almost drowned," said Michael Tucker, who frequents the swimming spot. "My homeboy had to save me," said Michael Tucker.

When Fernandez jumped from a cliff to retrieve a flotation device, none of his friends were in the water yet and Fernandez disappeared.

"He was swimming out about 75 feet from the bank and went under the water," said Assistant Chief Kevin Stofle, Georgetown Police Department. "He started struggling a little bit, went under the water and just never resurfaced."

Friends called for help, which arrived shortly before 1 p.m. Crews found his body around 8 p.m. Thursday.