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Hamblen sheriff identifies teenage Cherokee Lake drowning victims

Donovan Long # State
 lake_drowning

MORRISTOWN, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Two teenagers have drowned on Cherokee Lake in Hamblen County on Tuesday evening. Officials identified the teenagers as Kaleigh Ramirez, 15, and Nelson Chilel-Ramirez, 16.

Sherrif Esco Jarnigan said the teens were swimming with family and friends out in Evergreen Cove off Cherokee Drive when they went underwater and did not resurface. Rescue crews were called to the scene around 5:30 p.m.

"What it looks like to us is they were playing in the water and quite possibly might not be strong swimmers,"
Lt. David Cribley.
"Because of that, they just got caught in the water and couldn't get back up."

Officials said that Nelson drowned trying to save Kaleigh. According to family members, Nelson, who is from Guatemala, is the youngest in the family. His mother died one year ago.

Jarnigan said the girl's body was recovered earlier in the evening. He said no foul play is suspected. Cribley said boy's body wasn't found until about 9 p.m.

Cribley said the teenagers were dating.