OTTER LAKE — A water rescue effort on Otter Lake Thursday afternoon ended up being a false alarm because the swimmer in distress reported to 911 was not actually in distress, according to law enforcement and rescue personnel.

The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office said a lakeside resident in the Town of Forestport called 911 at 3:41 p.m. to report that a swimmer in Otter Lake appeared to be struggling. Authorities said the caller also soon lost sight of the swimmer, who they knew to be someone else who lived lakeside.

The Otter Lake Fire Department responded, with assistance from the Old Forge Fire Department Dive Team, along with the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and the Town of Webb Police Department.

According to Otter Lake fire officials, the swimmer was able to make it back to his residence without issue and he had no medical problems. The swimmer was interviewed by the authorities and it was determined that no one was missing or in danger, officials said.