Handsome Iowa prom king, 17, mysteriously drowns in just 15ft of water at a lake before 911 call

A high school prom king has mysteriously drowned in a shallow lake just weeks after graduation.

Ayden Beeson, 17, was swimming at a beach in Rathbun Lake in Moravia, Iowa , on Wednesday when he suddenly disappeared beneath the water.

Someone else at the lake called 911 at 6.13pm and police rushed to the scene near the Buck Creek campground, but there was no sign of him.

Appanoose County Water Rescue found his body at 7.33pm in just 15 to 20ft of water and hauled it from the lake. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

How Ayden got into difficulty in the water unnoticed, who he was with, and who called 911 are unknown.

Ayden was elected prom king by his classmates at Centerville High School, where he played middle linebacker on the football team.

'Students and staff recognized that Ayden was a genuinely kind person who treated every student and staff member with respect,' the school said.

'Words cannot express the depth of the sadness felt by the school community in this horrible tragedy.'

Ayden also played tennis and his coach Tyler Blaze said he was the only Big Red Tennis player in the modern era to place in the top six in conference all four years of high school.

'On top of being a great athlete his best quality was him just being him. Ayden was the kid every teacher and coach loves,' he said.

'He was such a kind and compassionate kid and gave you everything he had in the classroom and field/court. I'm am thankful for getting the opportunity to know such a person.'

The Appanoose County Sheriff's Office is investigating Ayden's drowning along with the Iowa State Medical Examiner.