A Girardville man has been identified as the victim in a drowning while swimming in a stripping pit near Girardville.Around 5:00pm, Girardville Fire personnel and the West End Dive Team from Mahanoy City responded to the "A Hole" in Butler Township just east of Girardville for a water rescue.
The victim reportedly went under and never surfaced.
The West End Dive Team rescued the body of the victim, but were not able to revive him once pulled to shore.
Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner David Truskowsky was at the scene and pronounced the victim.
Butler Township Police, Pennsylvania State Police, Shenandoah EMS, and Ashland EMS also responded to the incident.
The Schuylkill County Coroner's office has identified the victim as Robert Chuplis, 40, of Girardville.
The incident is still under investigation.