Body of missing swimmer found in Potomac River amid swift water warnings

A body has been found in the Potomac River and it is believed to be that of a young man who attempted to swim across the river on Friday. It's a grim reminder of how deadly Montgomery County, Maryland's stretch of the Potomac can be.

When the weather turns summery, the Potomac River can seem cool and inviting. The width of the river, between the banks of Maryland and Virginia, does not seem that wide. But what we see on the surface is deceptive. The currents and rocks are so dangerous that it is downright illegal to swim in the river.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue (MCFRS) crews saw several groups of young people swimming in the days leading up to this tragedy. MCFRS was even preparing to launch its Potomac River safety awareness campaign on Memorial Day.

But days before the safety campaign launched, MCFRS received reports that two young adult swimmers had entered the water in Virginia, attempting to swim to the Maryland coast. One swimmer made it, the other didn't.

The two were swimming near Sandy Landing, just south of Great Falls. The missing swimmer was a young man wearing black shorts. Pete Piringer, MCFRS public information officer, said he “became in distress and went underwater.” After local water rescue teams spent days searching for the young man, it was presumed he had drowned.

Then, search teams using sonar discovered a body underwater, stuck among rocks near Sandy Landing. The body was found around 8 a.m. on Memorial Day morning, May 27, and brought to the Old Anglers boat ramp. Fire and rescue officials believe this is the body of the swimmer they were searching for.

Montgomery County police are investigating the young man's death.

The annual Potomac River Safety Campaign is now underway and MCFRS is asking people to heed frequently posted warnings along the river. “Uprooted trees, debris, hidden rocks and other hazards create such a dangerous situation for swimming that wading and swimming are illegal in many places,” the department says. These hazards could trap a swimmer or trap their feet, even if the person is just wading.

The MCFRS Water Rescue Team is well trained to mobilize and respond in the water, but they still need to get to the river's edge to launch their boat and then head to the location. the emergency on the river. Sometimes it may be too late.

Piringer tweeted this warning to other young people that rescue teams observed swimming in the Potomac: “If you want to grow old, don’t!” »