REDWOOD — Robert J. Horton, 19, Evans Mills, died Tuesday after striking his head on the rocky ledge of a cliff while swinging from a rope, then falling into Millsite Lake and apparently drowning.

Mr. Horton graduated from Indian River High School, Philadelphia, in 2006.

The incident occurred about 5:30 p.m., and the body was recovered by rescue divers shortly before 7 p.m., said Glenn W. Morrison, director of the Jefferson County Office of Fire and Emergency Management.

"It was reported he had been jumping off a cliff and when he went down, the other guys that were there didn't see him come back up, so that's when they called us," Theresa Fire Chief Mark S. Savage said.

Determining the exact cause of death will require an autopsy. State police are investigating the incident and said in a press release they do not anticipate criminal action.

The cliff, locally known as "Big Rock," has been a popular gathering place and swimming area among young people for decades. Mr. Horton was with two or three friends when the accident occurred.

"This is an activity that occurs on a normal basis up here," Mr. Morrison said about swimming near the cliff. "Obviously, it comes with inherent risks, and this proves those risks."

The cliff is about 30 feet high and the water about 30 feet deep close to land before quickly dropping off to 60 feet or more.

"It's very high, the rocks are unstable and the water is very deep," Mr. Savage said.

C.J. Billings, Jefferson County's Special Tactics and Rescue team captain, said the lake bottom near the cliff is made up of rocks and sand, and there were some fallen trees underwater in the vicinity.

This is not the first incident in which a swimmer had to be rescued at Big Rock, but it is the only fatal incident officials can remember.

"A few years ago we had a similar subject, but luckily he didn't make it quite to the water," Mr. Savage said. "He ended up being in the rocks, and he was actually saved by one of our firefighters."

The cliff is posted as private property.

"The landowner used to have a lot of problems with kids swimming there over the years," Mr. Savage said.

In 1993, 22 people were charged with trespassing in a single incident, and 32 others were charged between 1999 and 2001.

David W. Ellis, a STAR team member, said there is a barrier blocking access to the cliff.

Joining the STAR team, the Theresa Fire Department and state police at the scene were the Redwood and Alexandria Bay fire departments, Thousand Islands Emergency Rescue Service and Jefferson County Sheriff's Department.

Mr. Morrison does not advise using the cliff as a swimming and diving area.

"We don't want another tragedy like the one here today," he said.