KERMIT — A cool dip on a hot day resulted in tragedy Wednesday afternoon.

A Mingo County man died while swimming in a pond at a coal mine.

Jarrod Fletcher, Director of Mingo County Emergency Services, said the victim was Alex Hammond, 20, of Kermit.

The pond is located at the former Kermit Coal Company, a subsidiary of Massey Energy.

Hammond was apparently swimming with two other people, who were not identified. The people with Hammond said he simply went under the surface of the water and did not come back up.

When they could not find Hammond, they called for help.

The Kermit Volunteer Fire Department, along with the Mingo County Sheriff’s Department and Fletcher responded.

Emergency crews found the body almost immediately after entering the water.

The slate pond is described as being very large and deep and the accident occurred sometimes between 3:30 and 4 p.m.

Hammond’s body has been sent to the medical examiner’s office in Charleston to determine an official cause of death, although it is believed he drowned.