Several County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) units and U.S. Park Police helicopters responded to a call for distressed swimmers in the Potomac River near Sherwin Island, Sunday evening.
Swiftwater rescue boats searched for “several distressed swimmers,” said MCFRS chief spokesperson Pete Piringer on X around 7:30 p.m. Potomac River reported two to four swimmers in the water before the rescue.
The Swiftwater rescue team located the original distressed swimmers and safely rescued them to shoreline, Piringer said. The boat crew located additional swimmers in the water nearby afterwards.
MCFRS continues to prohibit any swimming or wading in the Potomac River, due to its dangerous currents. Violators may be fined more than $200.
Update – Potomac River – ‘distressed’ swimmers have been contacted and are on Shoreline, they are OK, however Swiftwater boat crews have located additional ‘swimmers’ in water nearby – swimming is prohibited in this area (currents are dangerous) Sunset 829p pic.twitter.com/7gjRarrekb
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) July 21, 2024
