A Liberty man died Wednesday afternoon in an apparent drowning at Lake Cumberland.

Russell County Coroner Mark Coots says 28-year-old Joshua Tyler Wethington was swimming and wading with friends in the Caney Fork Creek section of the lake near the end of Stephens Ridge Road when the incident occurred.

According to Coroner Coots, Wethington's friends told Deputy Coroner Jason Snow they noticed he was in distress moments before he disappeared beneath the surface of the water. Friends were able to recover him, bring him to shore and immediately begin lifesaving efforts.

The 911 call was received at 4:53 Wednesday afternoon. The Russell County Coroner's Office was notified and responded to the scene at 5:20 p.m.

Coroner Coots says Wethington was pronounced dead at the scene. Coots has requested that the Kentucky State Medical Examiner perform an autopsy to determine the official cause of death.

The incident remains under investigation.