HIGH ROCK LAKE — The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a Rockwell man after he went boating with friends and family at the Crane Creek Waterway on High Rock Lake.

James Edward Lynch, 52, was pulled from the water Sunday by friends and family when they noticed he was struggling to swim, according to a department report.

The boat, which belonged to Lynch, had been tied off to the dock. The group spent the morning driving around the lake and anchored briefly before going to eat lunch. When they returned, Lynch tossed a float into the water and jumped in, but immediately came back to the surface as he struggled to breathe.

It’s not clear what caused Lynch to struggle while in the water, said Chief Deputy David Ramsey.

He was pulled from the water and given CPR, first by a neighbor and then by fire and EMS personnel for several minutes but the CPR was unsuccessful.